Michelle ThompsonMeta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, introduced a standalone app for its Meta AI assistant on Tuesday, mirroring offerings from Microsoft-backed OpenAI and Alphabet’s Google.
This new app is part of Meta’s strategy to increase the usage of its AI assistant, which was previously available only through its suite of platforms—WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger.
The launch also reflects CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s efforts to strengthen the company’s position in the highly competitive AI market, facing off against major players like OpenAI and Google.
The new app will offer more tailored responses based on individual user contexts and data from Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Meta’s Meta AI assistant is powered by Llama 4, the latest version of the company’s large language model. This model is built to compete with other advanced AI systems from OpenAI, Google, Deepseek, and Anthropic, offering enhanced reasoning, multilingual support, and efficiency.
Additionally, the app will integrate with Meta’s AI glasses and work in conjunction with the existing companion app. Meta is also hosting its inaugural AI developer event, LlamaCon, on Tuesday, focused on its Llama AI models.
Meta is scheduled to release its first-quarter earnings report on Wednesday after market close.
Starting in the second quarter, Meta plans to begin testing a paid subscription for advanced versions of its AI chatbot, according to a report from Reuters in February. However, this subscription service is not expected to generate significant revenue until at least next year.
Meta AI, which debuted in September 2023, is a virtual assistant leveraging large language models for complex reasoning tasks.
Emily Martinez
