According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is working on a comprehensive design change covering the bottom navigation bar in its Android app. In the new interface seen in WhatsApp Android beta version 2.26.38.10, the menu will be more rounded and slightly transparent. Meta AI access will be added as a tab to the bottom navigation bar instead of appearing as a standalone button. The update is currently limited to beta users; the general release date is unknown.
Why it matters
The change affects both WhatsApp’s core navigation layout on Android and the location of access to Meta AI within the app. Moving Meta AI to the bottom menu instead of keeping it as a separate button represents an interface choice that connects the feature more directly to the app’s main usage flow; however, how this will change the user experience cannot yet be observed. The visual refresh of the bottom bar also suggests a comprehensive adjustment to the way WhatsApp presents its functions, but the available information currently shows only its beta-stage appearance. For this reason, the development is of particular interest to Android beta users, while the open question for other users is whether the design will reach the general release without changes and when it will be made available.
Background
Android is not a new name in the FikirPilot archive: we have published 27 reports mentioning it in the last 90 days; the most recent one was dated September 26, 2026.