Meta Platforms has launched a stand-alone artificial intelligence assistant app powered by its proprietary Llama AI model, marking a major step in its ongoing push to dominate the generative AI space. This new app enters direct competition with offerings from major tech players including OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude, and xAI’s Grok. The app features a Discover feed, allowing users to explore how others are using the assistant and providing them with tailored prompts to get started.
Meta first introduced its generative AI assistant in September 2023, embedding it within its core platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. In April, the assistant replaced the traditional search functions on those apps, demonstrating Meta’s commitment to integrating AI deeply into its user experience. With the launch of this stand-alone application, Meta aims to extend its assistant’s reach beyond its ecosystem, making it more accessible and competitive on a global scale.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has expressed confidence that 2025 will mark the widespread adoption of intelligent and personalized AI assistants, and he anticipates that Meta’s offering will lead the way. At the start of the year, Meta’s AI assistant was reportedly used by approximately 700 million people each month, up from 600 million the month prior, signaling rapid user adoption.
The stand-alone Meta AI app follows the recent trend set by other tech giants who have released dedicated applications for their digital assistants. Both Google and xAI have taken similar steps to give their AI platforms greater visibility and user interaction outside of their native services.
The announcement of Meta’s app comes during its first-ever LlamaCon developer event, held at its Menlo Park headquarters. This gathering showcases the capabilities of Meta’s Llama family of AI models and highlights the company’s long-term strategy in AI development. Meta has already signaled strong investment plans in this space, with a projected $65 billion earmarked for AI infrastructure in 2025.
With its first-quarter earnings report due soon, investors and analysts are watching closely for indicators that Meta’s aggressive AI investments are beginning to pay off, both in terms of user engagement and monetization potential. The launch of the stand-alone Meta AI app is expected to play a key role in shaping the company’s AI-driven growth trajectory.
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