In a move aimed at solidifying its stake to market share within the major LLM provider landscape, Meta is reportedly close to launching a standalone Meta AI app, enabling it to compete squarely with AI offerings from the likes of OpenAI and Google's parent company, Alphabet.

There's an(other) app for that: Meta AI is currently integrated across the company's platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, serving approximately 700 million monthly active users. The introduction of a dedicated app could help broaden its user base by attracting individuals who may not be active on Meta's existing platforms.

Head-to-head competition: The standalone app, slated for release in the second quarter of 2025, is expected to offer AI functionality such as answering questions, generating images, and editing photos – aligning it with features provided by competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

Moneymaker: To monetize the concept, Meta is exploring a subscription-based model for the Meta AI app, similar to premium versions offered by competitors. This approach could open new revenue streams and enhance user engagement by providing advanced features to subscribers. ​

Tit-for-tat apps: Financially, Meta is making substantial investments to bolster its AI infrastructure, with projected capital expenditures between $60 billion and $65 billion for the year. Responding to the news that a standalone Meta AI app was in the works, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman humorously suggested that OpenAI might consider hitting back by developing its own social media app.