WhatsApp for Android could soon convert voice messages into text

Last month, WABetaInfo reported that WhatsApp is testing a new feature in the WhatsApp app for iOS that can transcribe voice messages. Well, the company has now started testing the same feature in the WhatsApp app for Android.

According to WABetaInfo, the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android (version 2.24.7.8) can convert the content in voice messages into text, allowing you to read the content in a voice note rather than listening to the voice message. The ability to do so comes in handy in situations where you can’t listen to audio but can read text.

As you can see in the screenshot shared by WABetaInfo, once the feature becomes available, WhatsApp will notify you about it with a pop-up that says “Read before you listen with transcripts.” According to it, “To enable transcripts, 150MB of new app data will be downloaded” and “WhatsApp uses your device’s speech recognition to provide end-to-end encrypted transcripts.” Once you click on the Enable button on the pop-up, the app will download the required resources and enable the feature.

At the moment, there’s no information about when WhatsApp will roll out the feature to the stable version of the app. Expect that to happen when the company thoroughly tests the feature, which should take at least a few weeks.