Meta Set to Unveil AI App on Track to Rival OpenAI and Google

In a strategic move set to shake up the tech world, Meta Platforms (META) is gearing up to launch its very own standalone Meta AI app. This initiative positions Meta to compete directly with industry giants such as OpenAI and Alphabet’s Google, as reported by CNBC on Thursday.

Launch Timeline and Accessibility

According to sources familiar with the matter, the new Meta AI app is expected to debut in the second quarter. While Meta AI is already accessible via web browsers and popular Meta apps like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, this standalone app marks a significant expansion of Meta’s AI capabilities. As of now, Meta has not responded to requests for comments on this development.

Strategic Vision for AI

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, highlighted during a January earnings call that Meta AI represents one of the most transformative products the company has developed. He noted the goal for this year is ambitious: to connect with 1 billion people. Currently, Meta AI boasts an impressive 700 million monthly active users, as revealed by CFO Susan Li in a transcript from AlphaSense. Reflecting its commitment to AI advancement, Meta plans substantial capital investments ranging between $60 billion and $65 billion for 2024, which is a notable increase from $39 billion in the previous year.

Exploring Subscription Models

The upcoming AI app may also include a subscription-based model, a strategy already employed by competitors such as OpenAI, Elon Musk’s xAI, and various others. Existing products like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, Microsoft’s Copilot, and DeepSeek offer standalone or premium experiences, presenting a framework Meta might emulate.

Market Reactions

In market movements, Meta’s stocks saw a minor rise of less than 1% in after-hours trading on Thursday, following a 2% decline during regular trading sessions. Since the beginning of the year, Meta shares have appreciated by approximately 12% through Thursday’s closing.