Meta is reportedly developing a standalone Meta AI app with paid subscription option

Meta will reportedly launch a standalone Meta AI app, aiming to compete with ChatGPT and others. The app, expected by mid-2024, is also expected to offer a paid subscription model.

In Short

• Meta plans to debut a standalone Meta AI app in Q2 2024
• The app aims to enhance user interaction with deeper personalisation and integration across devices
• Meta is also exploring a paid subscription model, similar to ChatGPT Plus

Meta is working on launching a standalone app for its AI assistant, Meta AI, which will join its family of apps like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, as per a report by CNBC. According to sources familiar with the matter, the app is expected to debut in the second quarter of this year. Meta AI was first introduced in September 2023 as a generative AI-powered assistant integrated into Meta’s existing apps. It allows users to get responses, create images, and perform tasks based on prompts. In April, Meta replaced the search bar in Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger with the Meta AI chatbot, making it a central feature across its platforms.

During Meta’s fourth-quarter earnings call in January, Zuckerberg emphasised the importance of AI, stating, “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.” Currently, Meta AI is only accessible through Meta’s apps and a website, unlike competitors like ChatGPT and Perplexity, which have standalone apps. A dedicated Meta AI app could allow users to interact more deeply with the assistant, offering features like personalised conversations and integration with devices like the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.

Zuckerberg has shown strong support for the idea of a standalone app. In January, he agreed with a Threads user who suggested that a separate app could unify the assistant across devices, organise conversation histories, and enable deeper customisation. Zuckerberg responded to the post with a red “100” emoji, indicating his wholehearted agreement.

Meta is also exploring monetisation opportunities for Meta AI. Similar to OpenAI and Microsoft, which offer premium versions of their AI tools, Meta plans to test a paid subscription service for Meta AI. CFO Susan Li hinted at this during the earnings call, saying, “There are pretty clear monetization opportunities here over time, including paid recommendations and including a premium offering.”

Meta AI currently has around 700 million monthly active users, with India being its largest market. WhatsApp sees the highest usage of Meta AI, followed by Facebook, where users engage with the assistant to ask questions about recommended content. However, Meta AI’s standalone website generates less than 10 million views per month, far behind competitors like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, according to data from Business of Apps.

The push for a standalone app comes as Meta faces increasing competition in the AI space. Google and Elon Musk’s xAI have already launched dedicated apps for their AI assistants, Gemini and Grok, respectively. ChatGPT remains the most popular AI app, topping download charts globally.

Zuckerberg is reportedly putting significant pressure on Meta’s AI teams to improve Meta AI and make it the most-used chat app by the end of the year. Employees have described an intense work environment, with expectations to work seven days a week to keep up with the fast-paced AI race.