Meta is preparing to launch a standalone app for its AI assistant, Meta AI, which will join its existing suite of apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. According to sources familiar with the development, the app is expected to debut in the second quarter of 2024, marking a significant expansion of Meta AI beyond its current integrations.Meta AI was first introduced in September 2023 as a generative AI-powered assistant embedded into Meta’s platforms, enabling users to generate responses, create images, and perform various tasks. In April 2024, Meta replaced the search bar in Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger with the Meta AI chatbot, positioning it as a central feature across its ecosystem.
 

Meta AI App to Rival ChatGPT and Google Gemini

During Meta’s Q4 earnings call in January 2024, CEO Mark Zuckerberg emphasized AI’s growing role in the company’s future, 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, Google Gemini, and Perplexity AI, which have dedicated standalone apps. A Meta AI app would provide a more personalized and feature-rich AI experience, allowing deeper engagement and better integration with Meta’s hardware, such as Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.Zuckerberg has also expressed his support for a standalone AI app. In January, he responded positively to a Threads user who suggested an app could unify Meta AI across devices, store conversation history, and enable more customization. His response, a red "100" emoji, indicated strong approval of the concept, further hinting at Meta’s long-term vision for its AI assistant.
 

Monetization Plans and AI Market Competition

Meta is also exploring monetization strategies for Meta AI. OpenAI and Microsoft have successfully implemented premium versions of their AI tools, and Meta plans to follow suit. Meta CFO Susan Li hinted at future paid subscription models, stating, “There are pretty clear monetization opportunities here over time, including paid recommendations and a premium offering.”Meta AI currently boasts 700 million monthly active users, with India as its largest market. WhatsApp users engage the most with Meta AI, followed by Facebook, where users frequently ask questions about recommended content. However, Meta AI’s standalone website generates fewer than 10 million views per month, significantly lagging behind ChatGPT and Google Gemini, according to data from Business of Apps.
 

The push for a standalone Meta AI app comes as the company faces growing competition in the AI industry. Google and Elon Musk’s xAI have already launched dedicated apps for their AI assistants, Gemini and Grok, respectively. Meanwhile, ChatGPT continues to dominate global AI app downloads, maintaining its lead in the AI space.Zuckerberg has reportedly placed immense pressure on Meta’s AI teams to improve Meta AI’s capabilities and make it the most-used AI assistant by the end of 2024. Employees describe an intense work environment, with expectations to work seven days a week to keep up with the rapid advancements in AI technology.As Meta aggressively expands its AI capabilities, the launch of a dedicated Meta AI app will be a crucial step in its competition with OpenAI, Google, and xAI. Whether Meta AI can surpass ChatGPT and Gemini remains uncertain, but Meta’s commitment to AI innovation is clear. The AI race is heating up, and Meta is determined to be a leading force in the future of artificial intelligence.