Messenger video calls will look and sound better — and add AI backgrounds

Meta has announced that it’s adding HD video calling and noise suppression to its Messenger app, along with several other features like AI backgrounds that help bring it up to par with other popular smartphone video calling apps.

HD video calling is enabled by default on Wi-Fi but can be turned on for calls using your cell data plan in the “Call settings” menu. You’ll also find options to adjust noise cancellation or switch your call’s audio output. Meta says it’s giving users the ability to leave voice or video messages as well.

Apps like Google Meet, Zoom, and FaceTime have all had these features already, and for many years in some cases. The same goes for AI-generated backgrounds, at least for Zoom and Meet. To try them inside Messenger, tap the effects icon in a call’s sidebar, describe what you want in a prompt box, and Meta AI will generate a background for you. Meta has been rolling out AI image generation elsewhere, including in Messenger chats and on Facebook and Instagram.

Lastly, Meta has added hands-free calling and messages via Apple’s Siri voice assistant. If you say something like “using Messenger” at the end when you ask Siri to make a call or send a text, and it should do so with Meta’s app instead of one of Apple’s built-in ones.