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Show HN: WhatsApp MCP Server

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Re: Show HN: WhatsApp MCP Server

#81

Post by jeroenhd »

InfiniteLoup wrote: post #22
TheDong wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you think it'd be okay if they used a local LLM, via ollama, and this MCP server?

Personally, I would say that still reeks of being manipulative. I've received messages from a friend which were definitely LLM-generated, it made me like that person considerably less

If they use the LLM to search ("when did X tell me about that party somewhere around Y's neighborhood") then I don't think there's any problem.

If they configure it to indicate a prefix, for instance when answering questions like "when are you free to hang out" and it responding "[AI] according to X's calendar and work schedule, they may be available on the following days" I might also consider that somewhat useful (I just wouldn't take it as something they actually said).

If they're using LLMs to reword themselves or because they're not really interested in conversing, that's a definite ick.

I would personally use such a system in a receive-only mode for adding things to calendars or searching. But I'd also stick to local LLMs, so the context window would probably be too small to get much out of it anyway.

Re: Show HN: WhatsApp MCP Server

#83

Post by krick »

CarlitosHighway wrote: post #9
samastur wrote: post #6

Cool work, but I'm more fascinated by your claim "99% of your life is stored in WhatsApp...". Not even remotely true for me even if it would encompass all messaging apps I use. I guess I'm just an old introvert, but it makes me wonder how life looks like for those for whom it is true.

The way to absolute dominance of WhatsApp with the Normies has't been sufficiently analyzed, I reckon. Somehow, WhatsApp managed to become extremely popular and heavily used by people who have trouble switching on a desktop pc. Even senior citizens have no trouble using it. Is it because they have a high motivation to use it? The UI / UX of WhatsApp surely isn't great, I'd even say it's quite bad. Where am I wrong? W…

Network effects are network effects. I really feel physical disgust and try to keep it off my devices, but while it's feasible when living normal, uh, "no-lifer" life, it's unfortunately basically impossible when I travel or even just participate in local communities (sports, hobbies, etc). In the latter case, it's simply rude and disorganizing to refuse to join the group chat, in the former case it's often the only way to contact hotel/taxi/whoever you urgently need to contact in some not so touristy spot. (And, BTW, it's designed to be practically unusable, if you don't allow it to access your contact book, so no dirty tricks like that will fly.)

As to "how do they even manage to use it", well, the mere notion of a great UI is vastly overhyped in the first place (by designers themselves, most of all). People get used to just about anything, if they are taught to use it. And learning a 5-step sequence to use any app like this — anybody can do that, even a 85 year old (even if they swear they can't).

Re: Show HN: WhatsApp MCP Server

#84

Post by berkes »

samastur wrote: post #6

Cool work, but I'm more fascinated by your claim "99% of your life is stored in WhatsApp...". Not even remotely true for me even if it would encompass all messaging apps I use. I guess I'm just an old introvert, but it makes me wonder how life looks like for those for whom it is true.

It's really a demographic issue. I've found that in the US relatively few people use WA. Same for SEA. But in western Europe almost everything is done on WA.

From "neighborhoodwatch" via "the school information" to "colleagues". Hell, even governments and public transportation have "feel unsafe? message us on whatsapp 06..." In the Netherlands it's truly omnipresent, and without WA you will be left out socially.

I'm reluctant of WA, because I'm steering clear of Meta as much as possible, but I do use it to: keep in touch with at least 26 social groups - friends, family, colleagues, co-workers, business - keep in touch with my date/love, my mother, and father who lives across the world.

granted, there's a big move going towards signal lately - finally. But I'm not sure how big this really is, and how sticky it will prove. Nor if this is just my bubble or truly across the whole country.

Re: Show HN: WhatsApp MCP Server

#85

Post by berkes »

charlie-83 wrote: post #62
ideashower wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Messages are. I do not believe that metadata about the messages are, however. So they know who you're speaking to, at what frequency, and from where.

Fair enough. That's not a problem to me but I can see it being an issue for people requiring complete anonymity. Are there any alternatives to WhatsApp that would fix this problem?

Signal. But not because they cannot read this metadata (they can) but because they promise they don't.

Re: Show HN: WhatsApp MCP Server

#86

Post by jeroenhd »

bilekas wrote: post #44
_def wrote: post #8

If I find out someone pipes my chat messages into a LLM, I will not converse with that person anymore.

This is actually something I am curious about, if for example I use this and I and streaming all my contacts information and messages externally, surely I'm breaking privacy laws in some US states and certainly in the EU. This seems sketchy to me.

It very much depends on the specifics around use cases, parties, and jurisdictions. In plenty of them, you're allowed to record and keep track of conversations you're taking part in, as is the other party, but publishing those on the internet would he illegal.

Processing them (like compressing them to mp3 files or storing them in cloud storage) is probably legal in most cases.

The potential problem with LLMs is that they use your input to train themselves.

As of right now, the legal status of AI is very much up in the air. It's looking like AI training will be exempt from things like copyright laws (because how else would you train an LLM without performing the biggest book piracy operation in history?), and if that happens things like personal rights may also fall to the AI training overlords.

I personally don't think using this is illegal. I'm pretty sure 100% of LinkedIn messages are being passed through AI already, as are all WhatsApp business accounts and any similar service. I suppose we'll have to wait for someone to get caught using these tools and the problem making it to a high enough court to form jurisprudence.

Re: Show HN: WhatsApp MCP Server

#87

Post by hemlock4593 »

deutschepost wrote: post #76

It is crazy how out of touch people on this platform can be. I live in Europe but have been to Asia and South America. People use WhatsApp everywhere. Just because you live in North America where everyone uses SMS/iMessage/whatever doesn't mean everyone does. I can remember my parents scolding me because they got charged for me receiving some SMS. WhatsApp was a gamechanger. You could send messages or pictures withou…

> WhatsApp was a gamechanger. You could send messages or pictures without having to think about the price of it (While being connected to a WLAN...)

Back, when data plans were around 1GB or less some network providers didn't charge you for using whatsapp on specific plans in Europe. There were also whatsapp branded sim cards, but I haven't seem them for a long time though.

Re: Show HN: WhatsApp MCP Server

#88

Post by enoughalready »

saberience wrote: post #7

I think this is like the 7th or 8th WhatsApp MCP implementation. I really have zero understanding why people think this is something crazy. It’s not. It’s importing the official MCP packages and wrapping basic API methods with an MCP tool decorator. You can even ask Claude or ChatGPT to make your MCP tools for you and they will write this same code in 1 minute. I can’t wait until the community realizes that MCP serve…

I've been struggling to understand the hype as well.

I think the excitement is more around seeing how MCP is being embraced, and the impact it can have. Rather than me having to wire up a bunch of tools by hand, I can now point to some configuration files and MCP servers.

I think it's fair for people to be excited, but ultimately, yes, your prediction is correct, and it won't be as exciting after MCP becomes a standard. This is similar to any new technology. e.g. years ago, Go programs and literature were popular on this site, but not so much any more.

Re: Show HN: WhatsApp MCP Server

#89

Post by jeroenhd »

berkes wrote: post #84
samastur wrote: post #6

Cool work, but I'm more fascinated by your claim "99% of your life is stored in WhatsApp...". Not even remotely true for me even if it would encompass all messaging apps I use. I guess I'm just an old introvert, but it makes me wonder how life looks like for those for whom it is true.

It's really a demographic issue. I've found that in the US relatively few people use WA. Same for SEA. But in western Europe almost everything is done on WA. From "neighborhoodwatch" via "the school information" to "colleagues". Hell, even governments and public transportation have "feel unsafe? message us on whatsapp 06..." In the Netherlands it's truly omnipresent, and without WA you will be left out socially. I'm…

Even within the Netherlands there are pockets of Signal users, Telegram users, and in rare occasions even people using SMS or iMessage. Facebook Messenger also has a foothold in some circles.

That said, you'd be an outlier if you have a mobile phone but no WhatsApp. Everyone has WhatsApp, but fortunately not everyone is using it for everything. Unfortunately, that usually means using an even less secure and trustworthy messenger service.

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