Facebook Messenger Gains Siri Integration, Audio and Video Voice Messages and More

Wednesday November 20, 2024 1:57 pm PST by Juli Clover

Facebook today announced several updates for its Messenger platform, introducing Siri call integration, new AI features, support for HD video calls, and audio and video voice messages.

iPhone users can now ask ‌Siri‌ to make a call or send a message through the Messenger app. "Hey ‌Siri‌, send a message to [person] on Messenger" will now work for hands-free calls. This is a feature that Apple has offered for some time, but Messenger did not support it until now.

Facebook is also adding audio and video voice messages, mirroring a FaceTime feature that Apple introduced with iOS 17. Messenger users can leave audio or voice messages when a Messenger call isn't picked up.

Messenger now supports HD video calls, background noise suppression, and voice isolation for clearer call quality when using Messenger. HD is enabled by default for calls made on Wi-Fi, and it can be added for cellular calls as well in the Messenger settings.

In the near future, Messenger will support AI backgrounds in Messenger video calls. Creating a personalized AI background can be done by tapping on the effects icon in the sidebar of a video call and choosing the "Backgrounds" option.

More information about the new Messenger announcements can be found on Facebook's website.

Tag: Facebook Messenger

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Top Rated Comments

louis^

25 months ago

The Facebook Messenger is a privacy nightmare

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

rgeneral

25 months ago

Gave up Facebook 4 years ago. Best thing I did

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

iStorm

25 months ago

No, he's literally using WhatsApp and giving his entire contact list away to Meta who also owns Messenger. It's pretty straightforward.

Ah, I missed that part. Thought they were using Messenger and regular texting. My point is still valid though. Companies can also get information about you through other people who have you as a contact.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

iStorm

25 months ago

Recently, Facebook has been offering up friend suggestions of people that I have only ever texted outside of Messenger. How in the world did Facebook make that connection if it's not somehow monitoring my phone activity?

Most likely, these people allowed the Facebook app to access their contacts, which happened to have your info. I'm guessing Facebook also knows your number (for security/2FA purposes), so they put the two and two together that way.

That's exactly what happened when I signed up for Venmo a while back. They require your phone number, and the app asked if it could access my contacts so it could suggest friends who are already on Venmo. I declined it, yet it still showed a bunch of people I know...some I haven't even talked to in 10+ years.

So while you may be the best person on the planet about protecting your privacy, it's all the other people who have you as contact that screw it up by giving apps access to their contacts.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)