Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has introduced a dedicated mobile app for its Meta AI assistant, marking a significant step toward broadening its artificial intelligence ecosystem. Previously available only through WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, the AI tool now gets its own space — signaling Meta’s intent to compete more directly with offerings from OpenAI and Google.
The new app aims to enhance user interaction with Meta AI by delivering more personalized and context-aware responses, drawing from users’ activity on Meta-owned platforms. This move reflects CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s strategic focus on making Meta a serious contender in the global AI race.
Built on Llama 4: Meta’s Most Powerful AI Model Yet
The app is powered by Llama 4, Meta’s latest large language model, designed to compete with the newest models from OpenAI, Google, Deepseek, and Anthropic. Llama 4 brings improvements in reasoning, multilingual understanding, and processing efficiency — ensuring the assistant can perform sophisticated tasks across a variety of contexts.
As part of Meta’s expanding AI ecosystem, the new app will also integrate with Meta’s AI-enabled smart glasses and will replace the current companion app, creating a more unified user experience.
Developer Spotlight: LlamaCon 2025
To support this AI-focused momentum, Meta is hosting its inaugural AI developer event — LlamaCon — a platform for showcasing the capabilities and applications of the Llama model family. The event underscores Meta’s push to engage developers, creators, and businesses in building AI solutions using its in-house technology.
Monetization on the Horizon
While the current version of Meta AI remains free to use, the company is planning to roll out a paid subscription model for advanced features starting in Q2 of 2025. However, insiders suggest that this initiative may not contribute significantly to revenue until next year.
A Strategic Shift in the AI Landscape
First launched in September 2023, Meta AI has steadily evolved from a chatbot into a comprehensive virtual assistant capable of supporting users with a wide range of tasks — from content generation and summarization to customer service and creative ideation. With this new standalone application, Meta positions itself more assertively alongside other major players in the AI field.
Meta is expected to release its Q1 earnings report shortly after the app’s launch, potentially offering more insights into how AI development is shaping the company’s financial trajectory.
