Meta's Strategic Move: Launching Standalone AI App to Challenge ChatGPT and Google Gemini

Meta set to release a direct competitor to ChatGPT -- here's what you need to know

Meta Platforms aims to keep up with its competitors and is set to release a standalone AI app. AI competition is tight, and new developments are moving at lightning speed. Chatbots are becoming capable of more nearly every day, with enhancements in deep research and video generation integration almost becoming the norm. Meta Platforms aims to keep up with its competitors, particularly OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini and is set to release a standalone AI application. This strategic move shows Meta is committed to advancing AI capabilities to maintain a relevant presence in the AI chatbot market. Meta AI has garnered a substantial user base since its initial integration into platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. As of December 2024, the chatbot boasts nearly 600 million monthly active users, reflecting rapid growth and widespread adoption. The upcoming standalone app is slated for release later this year, giving users a dedicated platform for AI usage outside existing Meta platforms. The platform functionalities include those similar to ChatGPT and Grok, including answering questions, generating images, and editing photos. Recent enhancements to the current Meta AI have improved its recommendation capabilities by incorporating memory features, allowing for more personalized and context-aware interactions. However, while these developments position Meta AI as beneficial, there is still room to become a more versatile tool for AI-assisted content creation and problem-solving solutions. To monetize its AI services, Meta plans to test a paid subscription model for Meta AI, which is expected to commence in the second quarter of this year. This approach aligns with industry trends, as competitors like OpenAI have introduced subscription tiers for its AI offerings. While immediate revenue from the subscription is not anticipated, this strategy reflects CEO Mark Zuckerberg's vision to bolster Meta's AI infrastructure and establish a sustainable business model for its AI initiatives. Meta's substantial investment in AI is evident. Bloomberg reported Meta's projected capital expenditures between $60 billion and $65 billion for the year. These funds are allocated towards enhancing the company's AI capabilities, including developing more advanced language models like Llama 4, which is expected to launch next year. The standalone Meta AI app represents a significant milestone in Meta's AI journey, potentially positioning the company as a formidable competitor in the rapidly evolving AI chatbot landscape. The AI chatbot market is becoming increasingly competitive, with several tech giants introducing their own versions of AI assistants. OpenAI continues to lead with its ChatGPT models, recently launching GPT-4.5, which notably offers reduced "hallucinations" and improved accuracy. Google's Gemini, Anthropic's Claude, and Elon Musk's xAI with its chatbot Grok are also notable contenders, each bringing unique features and advancements to the table. Meta's entry into this arena with a standalone app signifies its intent to capture a significant share of the AI chatbot market and leverage its extensive user base across various platforms. By aligning with industry trends and investing heavily in AI development, Meta is poised to challenge existing players, potentially reshaping its position in the future of AI-powered communication and content creation.

Meta AI could take on ChatGPT and Gemini with standalone app launching within months

While Meta has been working hard on its own artificial intelligence, at the moment it's more of a companion to the company's apps (Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger) and hardware (Ray-Ban smartglasses) than a direct rival to the likes of OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini and Microsoft's Copilot. But that could be set to change this year. According to a report from CNBC, Meta is planning to create a standalone AI app at some point in the second quarter. Assuming no delays, that means any point between April and June. The aim, according to the site's sources who asked not to be named for confidentiality reasons, is to see Meta leapfrog Google and Open AI as the leading AI company by the end of the year. This shouldn't come as a total surprise. Not only has Mark Zuckerberg endorsed posts on Threads suggesting that Meta should make its own app, but he told investors in January that AI would be a big focus this year. "In AI, I expect that this is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant," he said at the time. He added that the company's "really exciting road map" for the year would have a "unique vision focused on personalization" because "people don't all want to use the same AI." While Meta has billions of users across its many apps, one possible stumbling block to the company's plans to rule the AI roost is pricing. CNBC's sources claim that Meta plans to charge a monthly fee to offer more advanced features. True, both ChatGPT and Gemini do the same, but Meta users are more used to getting things for free. Facebook, Instagram and Messenger have always been free, and Meta actually removed WhatsApp's 99c a year fee two years after buying it. The company also doesn't have the best reputation when it comes to privacy, which could cause trust problems if the company expects users to candidly talk to its AI. Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT creator Open AI doesn't seem to feel too threatened. "Ok fine maybe we'll do a social app," he jokingly responded on X. "lol if facebook tries to come at us and we just uno reverse them it would be so funny," he added. Bravado or overconfidence? Possibly both. Despite its possible disadvantages in pricing and privacy, Meta has a huge amount of money to spend, so Zuckerberg's vision shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. The speed at which AI technology is moving means that the AI chatbot landscape could look very different at the end of 2025.

Check out Meta's not-so-cunning plan to take on ChatGPT

Meta wants a piece of the pie -- a big piece -- when it comes to generative AI. As part of its long-term strategy to embed itself in every part of our lives, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company is planning to launch its Meta AI chatbot as a standalone app, CNBC reported on Thursday, citing unnamed sources claiming to have knowledge of the matter. Meta is aiming to launch the AI chatbot app between April and June this year, the sources said. The company may also offer a subscription model with more advanced features. Recommended Videos A standalone Meta AI app would compete with the slew of other AI chatbots already out there, including popular ones like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, X's Grok, Perplexity, and DeepSeek, a Chinese effort that burst onto the scene just last month. Meta unveiled Meta AI in September 2023 before incorporating it into its stable of apps -- among them Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp -- starting last April. Like other generative AI apps, Meta AI can converse in a natural, human-like way, and also create images in response to prompts input by users. Speaking in January, Zuckerberg said that 2025 would be "the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than one billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant." By offering Meta AI as a standalone app rather than only as a part of its social media apps, Meta believes it will lead to deeper, more rewarding interaction with the AI, sources told CNBC. Certainly, if a big hitter like Meta does release Meta AI as a standalone app, it will increase competition and potentially further fragment the AI chatbot sector. Additionally, Meta's huge data resources could give its AI an edge in personalization, but at the same time its arrival may raise more privacy concerns compared to other AI chatbots. Responding to news that Meta may be about to release a standalone app for its AI chatbot, OpenAI chief Sam Altman quipped in a post on X: "OK, fine, maybe we'll do a social app," adding, "lol if Facebook tries to come at us and we just uno reverse them it would be so funny."

Meta plans to release standalone Meta AI app in effort to compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms Inc., arrives for the Meta Connect event in Menlo Park, California, on Sept. 25, 2024. Meta AI will soon become one of the social media company's standalone apps, joining Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, CNBC has learned. The company intends to debut a Meta AI standalone app during the second quarter, according to people familiar with the matter. It marks a major step in Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's plans to make his company the leader in artificial intelligence by the end of the year, ahead of competitors like OpenAI and Alphabet, said the people, who asked not to be named because the project is confidential. The Meta AI chatbot launched in Sep. 2023, with the company pitching it as a generative AI-powered digital assistant that can provide responses and create images based on user prompts within its existing apps. The company brought Meta AI to the forefront of its apps in April, when it replaced the search feature for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger with the chatbot. Meta AI has since become the primary method for Zuckerberg to showcase his company's generative AI technologies to billions of consumers. "This is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant," Zuckerberg told analysts during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call in January. Unlike competing generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and Perplexity, Meta AI is currently only available to users via a website and the company's apps like Facebook and WhatsApp. Although Meta's vast user base across its family of apps can access Meta AI, users could potentially interact more deeply with the digital assistant if it was available as a standalone app, the people said. In January, Zuckerberg publicly agreed with a Threads user who said Meta should create a standalone mobile app for its digital assistant. The Threads user wrote that a separate Meta AI app could help the company unify the digital assistant across smartphones and different hardware platforms like the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, help users organize their conversational histories with the digital assistant and allow for "Deeper personalization and customization." Zuckerberg responded to the Threads users with a red "100" emoji, often used in online chatter to convey wholehearted agreement. Meta also plans to test a paid subscription service for Meta AI, similar to how OpenAI and Microsoft charge users monthly fees to access more powerful versions of their respective ChatGPT and Copilot chatbots, the people said. Meta finance chief Susan Li told analysts in January that while the company's Meta AI efforts are focused on "building a great consumer experience," there are "pretty clear monetization opportunities here over time, including paid recommendations and including a premium offering."

ChatGPT and Gemini may soon see competition from a Meta AI chatbot

If Google wants to fill our phones with AI, it needs to give Pixels more storage Summary Meta plans to launch a standalone AI chatbot app to rival ChatGPT and Google Gemini. The app will debut in Q2, 2025, targeting non-Meta users wanting access to its AI chatbot. Sam Altman of OpenAI responded to the news with a playful dig at Meta on X. Just a day after reports surfaced that Meta is considering making Reels a standalone app to compete with TikTok, another report now claims that the company is also gearing up to challenge ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Related Study shows Apple, Google, and Meta are handing over user data at an alarming rate You're never private online Posts 6 According to a report from CNBC, Meta is planning to launch a standalone AI chatbot app that will directly compete with ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft's Copilot. Currently, Meta AI is integrated into WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, but the new app will target users who don't use Meta's other platforms but still want access to its AI chatbot. Meta wants to take on Google and OpenAI The report suggests the app could launch as soon as Q2 2025, as Mark Zuckerberg aims to position Meta as the leader in artificial intelligence by the end of the year. Interestingly, while Meta AI is currently free on its other platforms, the report claims Meta is planning to introduce a paid version of the chatbot through the new app, although pricing details are still under wraps. Meta AI is already quite powerful, capable of answering questions, generating images, and more. It recently gained a memory feature to provide more personalized and relevant responses. The news caught Sam Altman's attention too. The OpenAI CEO responded to the CNBC report on X (formerly Twitter) with a cheeky comment: "ok fine maybe we'll do a social app," taking a dig at Meta for stepping into the AI chatbot space. The race to become the go-to AI chatbot on smartphones has intensified. Google Gemini is now built into most flagship Android phones, and ChatGPT remains hugely popular with over 300 million weekly active users. Perplexity recently added an Android assistant feature to its app as well. With this new move, it looks like Meta wants a slice of the AI chatbot market too.

Meta to Release Standalone AI App to Compete With ChatGPT

Facebook parent company Meta is planning to release a standalone AI app that would compete with products like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Microsoft's Copilot, reports CNBC. The upcoming AI app will join Meta's other apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Recent news has also suggested that Meta could soon release a Reels app, breaking out the Instagram feature into its own product. Meta plans to release a Meta AI app in the second quarter of 2025, with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg aiming to become the leader in AI by the end of the year. Meta's AI product is already built into apps like Facebook and Instagram as part of the search feature, but it has some of the same generative capabilities as other AI products. Meta believes that a standalone app could allow users to more deeply interact with its AI assistant. While Meta AI will be free as it is now, Meta will test a paid subscription service that could have more advanced capabilities.

Meta plans to release a stand-alone AI app to compete with ChatGPT, as Sam Altman responds to the threat

According to new rumors posted by CNBC, Meta has announced that it is going to release a stand-alone app version of Meta AI to take on ChatGPT this year, prompting OpenAI CEO Sam Alman to respond with, "Ok fine maybe we'll do a social app", on the X social platform. The prospect of OpenAI creating a social media app in retaliation may have been a joke from Altman - his follow-up post on X said "lol if facebook tries to come at us and we just uno reverse them it would be so funny" followed by a laughing emoji, but it garnered some serious responses from users on X. "Drop the GPT - just 'chat'" said @not_a_vc, and "Have you thought about merging with X?" asked Bojan Tunguz. However, most users seemed to think the world didn't need yet another social media app. "A social chatGPT app would probably start a new paradigm. No telling how the consequences would play out from that", said RexMonte, "Social networks are now obsolete", said Mark Lindsay, and "How many social media apps have been tried yet everyone keeps coming back to this dumpster fire?" asked another user. According to CNBC, "people familiar with the matter" say the new Meta AI app is expected in the second quarter of this year. The Meta AI chatbot launched in September 2023, and can currently be accessed from its own website, or from inside Meta apps like Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram, where you can chat with the AI as if you were talking to a friend. Separating the AI out into a stand-alone app would pitch it directly against dedicated AI chatbot apps like ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok. In January this year, Zuckerberg responded to a post on Threads (another of Meta's social platforms) with a '100' emoji after a user suggested that Meta should have its own AI chatbot app, which could tie together MetaAI through all its different platforms, apps, and products like Ray-Ban Meta glasses. Meta has strong AI ambitions this year. Zuckerberg has described 2025 as being the "defining year" for Meta's smart glasses plans and a leaked internal memo allegedly penned by Meta CTO Andrew Bosworth has teased some big things in XR and AI tech from its Reality Labs division, including six new AI hardware devices.

Mark Zuckerberg Aims to Release a Dedicated Meta AI App to Take on ChatGPT

The company might introduce a paid subscription plan for Meta AI. Zuckerberg aims to make Meta AI the leading AI assistant by the end of this year. After securing a foothold in the social media space, Mark Zuckerberg now wants to make Meta AI the leading assistant in the AI industry. A new report by CNBC says that Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg plans to launch a standalone Meta AI app to compete with ChatGPT. According to people familiar with the matter, the project is confidential, but the company aims to release the Meta AI app in the second quarter of this year. Currently, Meta AI is integrated into various social media apps including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Meta believed that this was the best way to integrate AI technologies and bring access to billion+ users. However, Meta is now mulling that releasing a standalone app like ChatGPT would make Meta AI more accessible. Not only that, the company is also considering launching a paid subscription plan for Meta AI, just like ChatGPT Plus. This will allow the company to offer more powerful models and tools to paid subscribers. OpenAI, the creator behind ChatGPT, recently reported that it has 400 million weekly active users. In comparison, Meta AI's standalone website only gets around 10 million hits every month. However, Meta's Finance head Susan Li says that with Meta AI's combined usage in various social media apps, it clocks up to 700 million active monthly users. Even when we account for Meta AI's collective usage number, it still ranks much below ChatGPT. It appears Zuckerberg is putting significant effort into gaining traction among users with the Meta AI app. Recently, Elon Musk also unveiled the Grok app for iPhone, launched a new standalone website, and the Android app is currently under development. Meanwhile, reacting to the development, OpenAI chief Sam Altman posted on X, "ok fine maybe we'll do a social app." He followed up with, "lol if facebook tries to come at us and we just uno reverse them it would be so funny 🤣" Big software giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta are struggling to drive the adoption of AI and offer interesting new use cases. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in a recent podcast with Dwarkesh Patel tempered expectations and said: But by the way, the classic supply side is, "Hey, let me build it and they'll come." That's an argument, and after all we've done that, we've taken enough risk to go do it. But at some point, the supply and demand have to map. That's why I'm tracking both sides of it. You can go off the rails completely when you are hyping yourself with the supply-side, versus really understanding how to translate that into real value to customers. While Meta AI has introduced AI image editing, image generation, voice chat, AI translation, etc. into its social media apps, users are not enamored by these AI-powered features. Instead, users are looking to disable Meta AI in WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook. So what do you think about Meta's plan to launch a standalone AI app? Are you going to replace ChatGPT with Meta AI? Let us know in the comments below.

OpenAI's response to Meta's standalone AI app is a new social app

TL;DR: Meta plans to launch a standalone AI app this year to establish itself as a leader in AI, prompting a reaction from OpenAI. Meta is planning on releasing a standalone AI app, which is part of company CEO Mark Zuckerberg's plan to put Meta at the forefront of the AI industry. A new report citing people familiar with the matter states Meta will release the standalone AI app, which would be similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT, or DeepSeek, during the second quarter of this year. Notably, Meta released the Meta AI chatbot in September 2023, but then, in the following April, it was brought to the center of Meta's suite of apps as it was integrated into the search feature for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. However, users are only able to access Meta AI through these apps and the dedicated website, but that is about to change as people familiar with the confidential project say Meta is planning on releasing a standalone app that will compete directly with ChatGPT/Perplexity, and other standalone AI apps. According to the people familiar with the project, Meta believes its users could interact with the AI-powered digital assistant if Meta provided a standalone app. As for the competition, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has caught wind of Meta planning to release a direct competitor, with the company CEO Sam Altman taking to X to tease that in response to Meta's standalone app, OpenAI might release its own social app.

Meta is reportedly planning a standalone AI chatbot app | TechCrunch

Meta reportedly plans to release a standalone app for its AI assistant, Meta AI, in a bid to better compete with AI-powered chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. According to CNBC, Meta could launch a standalone Meta AI app as soon as the company's next fiscal quarter (April-June). Meta AI is currently only available to users via a website and Meta's family of apps, including Facebook and WhatsApp. Meta also plans to test a paid subscription service for Meta AI that'll add unspecified capabilities to the assistant, per CNBC. The publication wasn't able to learn the price. Meta AI, which has over 700 million active monthly users, is a part of Meta's multi-pronged strategy to become a dominant force in the AI space. The company has also aggressively released "open" models like Llama, which it believes could foster an ecosystem rivaling that of OpenAI's.

Meta AI Could Get Its Own Standalone App Like ChatGPT

Katelyn is a writer with CNET covering social media, AI and online services. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in media and journalism. You can often find her with a novel and an iced coffee during her time off. Meta AI could be finding a new home this year. The company is planning to release a standalone app for its generative AI chatbot sometime in the second quarter of 2025, according to CNBC, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter. Meta AI currently lives in its social media apps, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, and it's available through the web. But it doesn't have a standalone mobile or desktop apps, so creating one would be a big step forward for the company. It would also make Meta more competitive with OpenAI's ChatGPT. You can download the ChatGPT desktop and mobile apps (iOS and Android), or you can use it through your web browser. As an aside: After news of Meta's potential standalone app broke, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reposted the story, writing, "ok fine maybe we'll do a social app." Read more: Instagram May Spin Off Reels as a Standalone App, Report Says A Meta AI app might be helpful for folks who use the program regularly. When I reviewed Meta AI, I noted that its presence in our social media apps is as convenient as it is annoying. Ideally, if there was a separate mobile app for Meta AI, the company could be inclined to remove some of the Meta AI clogging up our DMs and search/explore. The current setup on the web prompts you to log into your Facebook account. If the standalone app doesn't require you to log in via Facebook, that might make it more accessible or appealing to use. Meta declined to comment on the app's development and release timeline. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is one of many tech execs who feel AI is the future. And he has been putting his money where his mouth is; in the company's latest earnings report, Meta said it will spend up to $65 billion on its generative AI and core business. But Meta's journey in AI has been rocky. Initial reactions to Meta AI's integration into its social apps were mixed, with many feeling it was an unwarranted or unnecessary addition. Meta created a number of AI Instagram profiles, which blew up when users like Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah posted about their conflicting, racist experiences chatting with them. Meta ultimately ended up scrubbing the accounts.

Zuckerberg's Meta to release standalone AI app

According to media reports, Meta will release its own standalone AI chatbot in the second quarter of this year, with subscription services also expected to be part of the plan. Mark Zuckerberg's Meta is set to develop its own standalone AI app to compete with OpenAI's ChatGPT, according to media reports. Citing sources familiar with the matter, CNBC reported that the app, called Meta AI, will be released during the second quarter of 2025 and is part of the company's plans to become a leader in Artificial Intelligence by the end of the year. Its competitors include names such as the Sam Altman-led OpenAI and Google's parent company, Alphabet. The Meta AI chatbot was released in 2023 as a virtual assistant that makes use of large language models. The reported upcoming release will be of a standalone app, which will sit alongside the company's other apps, such as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Meanwhile, a paid subscription service allowing users to access more advances versions of the chatbot will begin testing in the second quarter of the year, according to Reuters, with no meaningful revenue expected to be earned until at least next year. In January, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that the company would spend between $60 and $65 billion this year to fuel its AI expansion. EU regulatory headache An exclusive Euronews report this week found that Meta is under the European regulatory spotlight for potentially breaching European consumers' data protection rules. Some 5,000 Facebook users filed complaints in Germany, Norway and Spain over the use of their personal data for marketing purposes, which were transferred to the Irish data protection authority where Facebook has its headquarters. In relation to its AI model development in particular, Meta faced complaints in 11 European countries in mid-2024. The complains alleged that the company was seeking to use its platform users' personal data to train AI models. Legal action was launched after Meta updated its privacy policy asking to take all public and non-public user data - with the exception of chats between individuals - that it has collected since 2007 and use it for current and future "artificial intelligence technology," Austrial privacy advocates NOYB said at the time. US tech giants have recently been at loggerheads with EU regulators. Meta's global policy chief, Joel Kaplan, said in a recent interview that Europe's regulation against US tech companies is pushing the continent "to the sidelines."

Meta Could Launch a Standalone Meta AI App to Take on Rivals

Mark Zuckerberg said he expects Meta AI to be the leading AI assistant Meta is reportedly planning to launch its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot as a standalone app. The company currently offers Meta AI within its social media apps including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp. It is also available as a web client, however, the social media giant does not offer the platform as a mobile or desktop app. As per the report, the company now wants to increase the footprint of its AI assistant and create a deeply personalised experience for users to compete with major players in the space such as OpenAI and Google. A CNBC report claimed that the tech giant is planning to launch Meta AI as a separate app, alongside its existing social media platforms. Citing unnamed people familiar with the matter, the report claimed that the app could be launched in the second quarter of the year, which is between April and June. The plan to launch a standalone Meta AI app is reportedly part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's ambition to make the company a leader in the AI space before the end of 2025. The company is said to look at OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini as major competitors, both of which are available as independent apps. Apart from this, the company is reportedly also planning to test a premium version of Meta AI that will offer additional features. This is said to be available to paid subscribers, similar to the monetisation models leveraged by OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google. Susan Li, the Chief Financial Officer at Meta reportedly told analysts that the company is aiming to build a "great consumer experience" with the AI assistant earlier this year. Additionally, Li reportedly highlighted "clear monetisation opportunities" with Meta AI via paid recommendations. Zuckerberg reportedly expressed the ambition to build Meta AI as a "highly intelligent and personalised AI assistant" that reached more than one billion people during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call in January. As per a separate report, he also said the tech giant will spend as much as $65 billion (roughly Rs. 5,61,908 crore) on AI projects in 2025. The amount is said to include a new data center and expansion of the AI teams.

Meta plans stand-alone AI app

Meta plans to add an artificial intelligence app to its stable of stand-alone offerings including Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, according to a report Thursday by CNBC. Meta is battling rivals including Amazon, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft when it comes to models for powering AI, and has been incrementally weaving the technology into its platforms since launching its own AI chatbot in 2023. An independent app devoted to AI would fit into Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg's stated vision of having the most used AI assistant in the world. CNBC cited people familiar with the matter as saying Meta plans to debut a standalone AI app by the middle of this year. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman fired off a post on X, formerly Twitter, with a link to the CNBC story, writing: "OK, fine maybe we'll do a social app." Meta is also planning to test a paid subscription tier for its AI platform, in a revenue generating tactic used by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, according to the report. Meta declined to comment for this story. The tech giant recently reported surging profits and revenue for 2024, announcing ambitious plans to expand its artificial intelligence infrastructure in the year ahead. "I expect this is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading Assistant," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on the earnings call. The rise of Chinese startup DeepSeek's more economical AI model has reportedly prompted Meta to establish war rooms to study and potentially adapt the innovations for its own Llama AI models.

Meta To Launch AI App That Could Compete With OpenAI and Google Offerings, Report Says

The app is expected to launch in the second quarter, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Meta AI is currently available via web browser, and through existing Meta apps Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Meta did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Meta's earnings call in January, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Meta AI "is going to be one of the most transformative products that we've made" and could reach 1 billion people this year. The AI assistant has already scaled to 700 million monthly active users, CFO Susan Li said on the call, according to a transcript from AlphaSense. This comes as Mets plans to spend big on AI this year, with projected capital expenditures of $60 billion to $65 billion, up from $39 billion in 2024. Meta is also expected to explore a subscription-based model, the report said, similar to how competitors such as OpenAI, Elon Musk's xAI, and others charge for premium versions. OpenAI's ChatGPT has an existing standalone app, as do Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini, Microsoft's (MSFT) Copilot, and DeepSeek, among others. Shares of Meta gained less than 1% in extended trading Thursday after falling 2% in the regular session. They've added about 12% since the start of the year through Thursday's close.

Meta plans stand-alone AI app: report

San Francisco (AFP) - Meta plans to add an artificial intelligence app to its stable of stand-alone offerings including Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, according to a report Thursday by CNBC. Meta is battling rivals including Amazon, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft when it comes to models for powering AI, and has been incrementally weaving the technology into its platforms since launching its own AI chatbot in 2023. An independent app devoted to AI would fit into Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg's stated vision of having the most used AI assistant in the world. CNBC cited people familiar with the matter as saying Meta plans to debut a standalone AI app by the middle of this year. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman fired off a post on X, formerly Twitter, with a link to the CNBC story, writing: "OK, fine maybe we'll do a social app." Meta is also planning to test a paid subscription tier for its AI platform, in a revenue generating tactic used by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, according to the report. Meta declined to comment for this story. The tech giant recently reported surging profits and revenue for 2024, announcing ambitious plans to expand its artificial intelligence infrastructure in the year ahead. "I expect this is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading Assistant," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on the earnings call. The rise of Chinese startup DeepSeek's more economical AI model has reportedly prompted Meta to establish war rooms to study and potentially adapt the innovations for its own Llama AI models.

Meta plans stand-alone AI app

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) - Meta plans to add an artificial intelligence (AI) app to its stable of stand-alone offerings including Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, according to a report by CNBC. Meta is battling rivals including Amazon, OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft when it comes to models for powering AI, and has been incrementally weaving the technology into its platforms since launching its own AI chatbot in 2023. An independent app devoted to AI would fit into Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg's stated vision of having the most used AI assistant in the world. CNBC cited people familiar with the matter as saying Meta plans to debut a standalone AI app by the middle of this year. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman fired off a post on X, formerly Twitter, with a link to the CNBC story, writing: "Okay, fine maybe we'll do a social app." Meta is also planning to test a paid subscription tier for its AI platform, in a revenue generating tactic used by ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, according to the report. Meta declined to comment for this story. The tech giant recently reported surging profits and revenue for 2024, announcing ambitious plans to expand its AI infrastructure in the year ahead. "I expect this is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalised AI assistant reaches more than one billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading assistant," CEO Mark Zuckerberg said on the earnings call. The rise of Chinese startup DeepSeek's more economical AI model has reportedly prompted Meta to establish war rooms to study and potentially adapt the innovations for its own Llama AI models.

Meta reportedly planning to launch standalone Meta AI app - SiliconANGLE

Meta Platforms Inc. plans to release a mobile version of its Meta AI artificial intelligence assistant, CNBC reported on Thursday. The app is expected to debut in the second quarter. Meta AI is a ChatGPT-like chatbot service that debuted in September 2023. It's currently available in Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger as well as through a standalone website. The chatbot can perform many of the same tasks as ChatGPT's consumer-focused versions. Alongside the standalone mobile app, Meta reportedly plans to test a paid Meta AI subscription. It's unclear whether the offering will launch at the same time as the app. There's no word on what additional features the subscription might provide. Meta's reported plan to launch an app for its chatbot doesn't come as a surprise. In January, a Threads user suggested that the company should develop such an app to make the chatbot more useful. Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg responded with an emoji expressing agreement. Besides suggesting a standalone app, last month's Threads post also listed a number of features that Meta AI's upcoming mobile version should include. One of the items on the list was support for "lightweight offline use". Meta has already developed the core technology necessary to power an offline mobile chatbot. Many AI apps are powered by a large language model hosted in the cloud, which means they require a network connection to access that model. To work offline, a chatbot app must include an LLM lightweight enough to run on the user's device. In September, Meta released two lightweight models called Llama 3.2 1B and Llama 3.2 3B that meet this requirement. Smartphones are powered by systems-on-chip, processors that combine multiple compute modules in a single package. Those modules usually include a central processing unit based on Arm Holdings plc blueprints. When Llama 3.2 1B and Llama 3.2 3B made their debut, Meta revealed that it optimized them to run on Arm silicon. This means the company could potentially use them to power its upcoming Meta AI app. A few weeks after introducing the models, Meta rolled out upgraded versions that run up to four times faster using 41% less memory. The efficiency gains were achieved with a machine learning method called quantization. It works by compressing data before entering it into a language model, which boosts response speeds at the expense of lower output quality. For Llama 3.2 1B and Llama 3.2 3B, Meta developed a custom quantization algorithm dubbed SpinQuant. It doesn't decrease models' output quality as much as earlier implementations. Additionally, the company worked with Qualcomm Inc. and MediaTek Inc. to optimize the quantized Llama 3. models for their mobile SoCs. It's unclear what features will be available in the paid subscription that Meta is expected to roll out alongside the Meta AI app. If competing chatbot apps are any indication, the plan might offer higher usage caps or access to more advanced LLMs than the free version. One of those premium LLMs might be Meta's upcoming Llama 4 algorithm, which is expected to roll out later this year.

Meta set to release standalone AI app in Q2 - CNBC By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Meta is preparing to launch a standalone artificial intelligence (AI) application in the second quarter of this year, according to CNBC. This move marks an important milestone in CEO Mark Zuckerberg's strategy to position Meta as the leading AI company by the end of the year. The initiative puts Meta in direct competition with other tech giants such as OpenAI and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL). In addition to the standalone app, Meta is also planning to introduce a paid-subscription-service for Meta AI. This decision appears to be influenced by OpenAI's business model, which involves charging monthly fees for access to more powerful versions of its AI program, ChatGPT. The standalone Meta AI app will join the ranks of Facebook (NASDAQ:META), Instagram, and WhatsApp as one of the company's independent applications. Meta AI was initially launched as a chatbot in September 2023. The company promoted it as a generative AI-powered digital assistant capable of providing responses and creating images based on user prompts within its existing apps. In April, Meta AI was brought to the forefront of the company's applications, replacing the search feature for Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. The upcoming standalone app is seen as the next step in the evolution of Meta AI, further emphasizing the company's focus on artificial intelligence technology.

Inside Meta's new plan to compete with ChatGPT

Conway Gittens: Get ready for a new app from Mark Zuckerberg and Meta. In an attempt to capitalize on what he hopes will be growing interest in artificial intelligence by everyday people, Zuckerberg is planning to launch a separate AI app to go along with Facebook, Instagram and What's App. According to CNBC, the launch is being targeted for sometime within the April to June period. The company is hoping to steal thunder from OpenAi, which has the wind at its back with the advantage of being the first to become a household name thanks to ChatGPT. Related: Meta scales back a major employee perk amid layoffs Meta is going to be in a crowded field of competitors trying to grab attention and eyeballs, and it's not yet clear if there will be enough of those to go around. Of course, there's OpenAI - add to that offerings from Microsoft, Elon Musk's xAI, Anthropic, and Alphabet, the parent of the ubiquitous search app Google. Sources familiar with the confidential project told CNBC there's likely to be a paid version, where users get charged a monthly fee to get access to a more powerful AI functionality. OpenAi's ChatGPT and Microsoft's Co-Pilot already have paid upgrades. Zuckerberg has lofty ambitions as he predicts the market for personalized AI assistants will top 1 billion people this year and he said "I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant." While people can already use Meta AI on a website or through Meta's popular apps like Facebook and What'sApp, a standalone app would give Zuckerberg even greater reach. That'll do it for your Daily Briefing. From the New York Stock Exchange, I'm Conway Gittens with TheStreet. Watch ICYMI This Week:

Meta plans to launch standalone Meta AI app. OpenAI's Sam Altman fires back.

Zuck's Meta AI plans are a joke to OpenAI's Sam Altman. Credit: Ricky Carioti / Pool / Getty Images Meta is reportedly planning to spin off Meta AI into a standalone app to compete with ChatGPT. OpenAI's Sam Altman immediately responded with a heavy dose of snark. According to CNBC, Meta plans to make Meta AI -- which currently exists as a tool embedded within Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp -- into its own app in the second quarter of this year. This is all part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's ambition to make Meta AI the go-to AI assistant, aiming to take on competitors like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and xAI's Grok. "This is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant," said Zuckerberg in a fourth quarter earnings call in January. In order to do that, Meta has a steep hill to climb. The world hasn't embraced Meta AI as enthusiastically as ChatGPT, which became the fastest growing app of all time shortly after its launch. When Meta hard-launched Meta AI by making it the default search bar on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, people hated it and soon discovered you can't turn it off. That, plus the fact that it's integrated within Meta's apps, might skew data on use and engagement. Meta CFO Susan Li said in the January earnings call that Meta AI has "more than 700 million monthly actives," but that could be because it's part of the existing apps, and again, cannot be turned off. By comparison, ChatGPT has over 300 million weekly active users. Altman took notice of the CNBC story and seemed skeptical about Meta AI's ambitious plans. "Ok fine maybe we'll do a social app," he said on X, reposting the CNBC article. Altman added in another somewhat snarky comment, "lol if [F]acebook tries to come at us and we just uno reverse them it would be so funny." Altman is referencing the Uno game card and meme that effectively boils down to beating someone at their own game. Zuckerberg appears to see Meta AI as the company's golden goose for increasing engagement and monetizing its apps. But it has bungled past efforts to meaningfully engage with users. There was the whole confusing celebrity AI avatars, which was axed after less than a year after failing to gain traction. And then there were the made-up AI characters like Liv the "proud Black queer momma of 2 & truth-teller," that was annihilated for being "digital blackface" and has since been shut down. On top of that, Meta has made it near impossible to opt out of scraping user data to train Meta AI, which isn't great for fostering trust. That said, Google has similar data gathering practices for Gemini, so maybe it won't be a deal breaker for Meta users.

Meta's AI chatbot will soon have a standalone app

Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Meta is planning to launch a dedicated app for its AI chatbot, according to a report from CNBC. The Verge can also confirm that Meta is working on the standalone app. The new app could launch in the second quarter of this year, CNBC says, joining the growing number of standalone AI apps, including OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot. Meta has already brought its AI chatbot across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, but launching a standalone app could help the company reach people who don't already use those platforms. Similar to rival chatbots, Meta AI can answer questions, generate images, edit photos, and more. It recently gained the ability to use its "memory" to provide better recommendations. In a response to CNBC's report, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joked, "ok fine maybe we'll do a social app." Meta declined to comment. Meta has ramped up its efforts to compete in the AI industry in recent months, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg announcing plans to invest up to $65 billion to further the company's AI ambitions. The company also plans on holding an event dedicated to AI on April 29th.

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta targets ChatGPT with plans to release...

Meta Platforms plans to debut a standalone Meta AI app to join Facebook and Instagram during the second quarter, CNBC reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The move marks a major step in Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's plans to make Meta the leader in AI by the end of the year, ahead of competitors like OpenAI and Alphabet, CNBC reported. Meta did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Last month, Zuckerberg said that the company plans to spend as much as $65 billion this year to expand its AI infrastructure.

Meta's Next Big Move: A Standalone AI Chatbot App

Meta AI Expands: Standalone App and Subscription Model on the Horizon Meta is developing a standalone application for its . This strategic initiative, projected for release in the second quarter, is designed to extend Meta AI's accessibility beyond its current integration within platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp, where it already engages a substantial user base of users. Furthermore, the company is exploring a subscription-based model, indicating a deliberate effort to monetize its AI services and establish a more prominent position within the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence sector.

Meta plans to release standalone Meta AI app, CNBC reports

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab plans to debut a standalone Meta AI app to join Facebook and Instagram during the second quarter, CNBC reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The move marks a major step in Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's plans to make Meta the leader in AI by the end of the year, ahead of competitors like OpenAI and Alphabet, CNCB reported. Meta did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Last month, Zuckerberg said that the company plans to spend as much as $65 billion this year to expand its AI infrastructure. Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Alan Barona Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Artificial Intelligence

Meta plans to release standalone Meta AI app, CNBC reports

Feb 27 (Reuters) - Meta Platforms plans to debut a standalone Meta AI app to join Facebook and Instagram during the second quarter, CNBC reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The move marks a major step in Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg's plans to make Meta the leader in AI by the end of the year, ahead of competitors like OpenAI and Alphabet, CNCB reported. Meta did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Last month, Zuckerberg said that the company plans to spend as much as $65 billion this year to expand its AI infrastructure. (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Alan Barona)

Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Wants To Do An AI App But Sam Altman Wants To Pull A 'Reverse Uno' Card: 'Maybe We'll Do A Social App' - Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman teased the possibility of developing a social media application in response to Meta Platforms Inc.'s META plans to launch a standalone artificial intelligence app, setting the stage for intensified competition in the AI space. What Happened: "Ok fine maybe we'll do a social app," Altman posted on X, adding, "lol if facebook tries to come at us and we just uno reverse them it would be so funny." His comments came directly after CNBC reported Meta's intentions to release a dedicated Meta AI application in the second quarter of 2025. Meta's upcoming standalone app represents a significant advancement in CEO Mark Zuckerberg's strategy to position the company as the AI industry leader by year-end, ahead of competitors like OpenAI and Alphabet Inc. Currently, Meta AI is accessible only through Meta's existing platforms -- Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp -- where it has accumulated approximately 700 million monthly active users. See Also: Rocket Lab Q4 Earnings: Revenue Beat, EPS Beat, New Satellite Product, Multi-Launch Agreement, Shares Slide On Soft Guidance Why It Matters: According to Meta CFO Susan Li, the company also plans to test a paid subscription model for Meta AI, similar to OpenAI's premium ChatGPT offerings. The social media giant has prioritized AI development, with Zuckerberg stating during Meta's fourth-quarter earnings call: "This is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant." Meanwhile, ChatGPT remains the most downloaded AI application according to Sensor Tower's State of Mobile 2025 report, followed by Google Gemini, ByteDance's Doubao, and Microsoft's Copilot. Both Google and Elon Musk's xAI have recently launched standalone apps for their respective AI assistants, Gemini and Grok. Read Next: Trump Administration's Move To Fire Probationary Employees Gets Halted By Judge: Thumb Your Nose If You Want Image Via Shutterstock Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. METAMeta Platforms Inc$660.69-1.93%OverviewMarket News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs