Meta is launching a standalone AI chatbot app, aiming to rival ChatGPT and Gemini while exploring a premium subscription model for users.
Meta is doubling down on artificial intelligence. The company is reportedly working on a standalone app for its AI chatbot, Meta AI, which is currently embedded within Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.
According to sources, the app is expected to launch sometime in the second quarter of 2025—a move that would put Meta in direct competition with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
A Bold Move in the AI Race
Meta AI, much like its rivals, is designed to engage in natural conversations, answer questions, and generate images. But with a dedicated app, it could become a more powerful tool, giving users a reason to use it beyond just social media.
Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has made it clear that AI is at the heart of the company’s long-term strategy. “Meta AI is one of the most important things we’re building,” Zuckerberg has said in the past. And with 700 million people already using it across Meta’s platforms, the company believes this number could grow to 1 billion users within a year.
In fact, during the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call in January, Mark said:
“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,”
A Paid AI Subscription?
Beyond launching the standalone app, Meta is also exploring a subscription model for its AI services (Just like OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus). That means users may get a premium version of Meta AI with more advanced features, though details on pricing and capabilities remain under wraps.
The company has been rapidly upgrading Meta AI, introducing memory features that allow the chatbot to recall previous interactions, similar to OpenAI’s upcoming GPT-5. This means the AI could remember a user's travel preferences, favorite restaurants, or even personal details to make conversations feel more tailored.
Can Meta Compete With AI Giants like ChatGPT?
With OpenAI, Google, and even Elon Musk’s Grok AI dominating the conversation, Meta is playing catch-up. But it’s betting big: the company has set aside between $60 billion and $65 billion in capital expenditures this year, much of which will go toward AI development. In the rebuttal, Sam Altman took to X and ‘Jokingly’ said, “ok fine maybe we'll do a social app. Lol if facebook tries to come at us and we just uno reverse them it would be so funny"
It remains to be seen whether a standalone Meta AI app will be a true competitor to ChatGPT—or just another AI chatbot in an increasingly crowded market. But one thing is clear: Meta is not backing down in the AI race.
