Meta launches standalone AI app to rival ChatGPT

In April 2025, Meta Platforms Inc. unveiled a stand-alone artificial intelligence application, marking a significant step in its competitive strategy against OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google’s AI efforts. The announcement took place during LlamaCon, Meta's inaugural generative AI conference, held at its headquarters in Menlo Park, California. This launch follows the company’s broader initiative to enhance its AI offerings, which already include an AI chatbot integrated within its popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. The new app is powered by Meta's advanced Llama 4 model and provides features that aim to personalize user experiences while engaging with the assistant in various contexts. Meta’s app includes a Discover feed showcasing how other users interact with the AI, offering prompts and examples. It is designed to integrate seamlessly with the company’s ongoing product expansions, focusing on user engagement in a manner unique to the social networking context, thus strengthening its foothold in the AI market. Notably, this approach is distinct from its competitors, positioning Meta’s AI as a more socially oriented tool by linking its functionality with user data from its social media platforms. As Meta progresses, it relishes the vital role of AI in its business strategy, as reflected by CEO Mark Zuckerberg's ambitious outlook for personalized AI experiences by 2025. The competitive landscape continues to intensify with Meta's entry, as the AI arms race evolves with notable players like Microsoft’s OpenAI, Google’s Gemini, and others launching similar initiatives. The simultaneous advancements from these tech giants emphasize the urgency and significance of artificial intelligence in today's technological milieu. Meta’s plan to test a paid subscription model for some advanced AI features highlights a potential new revenue stream, which might not yield significant earnings until the following year, as suggested by industry sources. Investors are closely monitoring the tangible impacts of Meta’s AI projects, particularly as the company is set to report its first-quarter earnings, which may unveil financial outcomes related to these recent developments. Zuckerberg's assertion regarding the personalization of the assistant aims to capitalize on a rapidly-growing audience of AI users. As of January 2025, Meta's AI service already boasted around 700 million monthly active users, signifying robust engagement. The integration of various functionalities like image generation, voice mode interactions, and a unique discover feed in the AI app demonstrates a commitment to innovation, catering to the ever-evolving preferences of users while striving to distinguish itself within the competitive AI ecosystem. This innovative approach positions Meta to not only compete in the AI space but also leverage its vast social network to enhance user experience and retention, driving forward its larger mission within the tech industry.