Meta is planning to launch a standalone AI app

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According to a report from CNBC, Meta is pushing into the generative AI space by planning to launch its AI chatbot, Meta AI, as a standalone app. 

The company, led by Mark Zuckerberg, aims to roll out the Meta AI app between April and June 2024 and potentially introduce a subscription model offering advanced features. 

This development positions Meta AI in direct competition with established AI chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, X’s Grok, Perplexity, and the recently emerged DeepSeek from China.

Meta wants to go full throttle with its AI in 2025 

Meta AI initially debuted in September 2023 and was gradually incorporated into Meta’s ecosystem of applications, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. 

Like other generative AI models, it can engage in human-like conversations and generate images based on user prompts. 

However, Meta’s decision to release Meta AI as a separate app suggests an ambition to enhance user engagement and interaction beyond the constraints of social media platforms.

Sources indicate that Meta believes this approach will create a deeper and more valuable AI experience rather than limiting it to auxiliary chatbot functions within existing services.

Mark Zuckerberg believes that 2025 will mark the year AI assistants achieve widespread adoption, with Meta AI expected to lead the market. 

Given Meta’s vast user base and extensive data resources, its standalone AI could potentially offer superior personalization capabilities compared to its rivals. 

However, this advantage also raises concerns about data privacy, as Meta has faced scrutiny in the past regarding its handling of user information. 

If successful, Meta’s foray into standalone AI apps could heighten competition and contribute to the growing fragmentation of the AI chatbot sector.

The announcement of Meta AI’s potential standalone launch has already sparked reactions from industry leaders. 

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman playfully responded on X/Twitter by suggesting that OpenAI might counter Meta’s move by developing its own social app, humorously referencing the idea of an “uno reverse” against Facebook’s competitive ambitions.

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