Meta to Launch Standalone AI App to Compete with ChatGPT

Meta is preparing to launch a standalone Meta AI app in the second quarter of 2025, marking a significant step in CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s strategy to position the company as a leader in artificial intelligence. The move follows Meta’s deep integration of its AI assistant across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger.

Since its launch in September 2023, Meta AI has functioned as a generative AI-powered assistant within the company’s ecosystem, providing responses and image generation capabilities. In April 2024, Meta expanded its role by replacing the search function in its major platforms with the AI assistant.

While Meta AI is accessible through the company’s apps and website, the upcoming standalone version is expected to offer a deeper user experience, potentially enhancing engagement and customization. The decision aligns with Zuckerberg’s broader vision to make Meta AI the leading digital assistant, reaching over a billion users.

“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 stated during a Q4 2024 earnings call.

Subscription Model and Monetization Plans

Meta is also planning to introduce a paid subscription model for Meta AI, similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT Plus and Microsoft’s Copilot Pro. This would allow users to access advanced AI features for a monthly fee.

Meta CFO Susan Li has emphasized the company's focus on “building a great consumer experience” while also hinting at monetization opportunities beyond subscriptions, including paid recommendations and premium offerings. “There are pretty clear monetization opportunities here over time,” Li told analysts in January.

Competition in the AI Assistant Space

The launch of a standalone Meta AI app follows similar moves by competitors:

• Google launched a dedicated Gemini AI app for Android and iOS.

• xAI, founded by Elon Musk, introduced a standalone Grok AI app.

• OpenAI’s ChatGPT remains the most popular AI assistant, according to Sensor Tower’s 2025 mobile report.

Despite Meta AI’s integration across its platforms, analysts have noted that its standalone website sees limited traffic—less than 10 million monthly visits—far below ChatGPT and Google Gemini. Analysts say comparing Meta AI’s usage to ChatGPT and other rivals is challenging since it lacks a standalone app. The app’s launch could help Meta bridge this gap.

Pressure to Lead AI Development

Internally, Meta is ramping up efforts to accelerate AI development, with employees reportedly facing pressure to work seven-day weeks to keep pace with competitors. Zuckerberg has made it clear that AI, wearable computing (such as Meta’s smart glasses), and the future of social media are Meta’s top priorities in 2025. Sources say Zuckerberg aims for Meta AI to become the world's most-used chat app by year’s end.

“This is going to be an intense year, and I want to make sure we have the best people on our teams,” Zuckerberg wrote in a memo announcing recent company layoffs.

What This Means

Meta’s decision to launch a standalone AI app signals its commitment to AI dominance. The move could help the company increase user engagement, compete directly with OpenAI, and monetize AI services more effectively. However, with major rivals already established in the AI chatbot space, Meta AI faces an uphill battle to secure market leadership.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.