3D images.. Meta tests new WhatsApp calls

Meta is preparing to launch a new video calling experience on WhatsApp, allowing users to appear with a digital representation that mimics their features and expressions instead of broadcasting their image directly via the camera.

The company announced the feature during the Meta Connect 2026 conference, with a pilot rollout planned for users of Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses in the United States in the fall of 2026.
 
Users will need to record a short clip via the meta ai app to create their digital image, while the Muse Realtime avatar model will simulate facial expressions based on their voice and speaking style. A watermark will indicate to the other party that the image is digitally generated.
 
Meta also unveiled new virtual reality glasses capable of creating a full-body digital representation, which can appear at life size within the recipient's room and use spatial audio, supporting services like WhatsApp and Zoom.
 
Although the technology does not yet provide a three-dimensional model that can be viewed from all angles, it represents an advancement over the traditional avatars that Meta has used previously, with the new virtual reality glasses expected to launch in spring 2027.