New AI Showdown on Meta’s App Challenges ChatGPT and Gemini

Meta has just broken away from its social apps to launch a dedicated AI assistant—Meta AI—aimed squarely at rivals like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. This standalone mobile app packs new voice and social features, powered by the latest Llama 4 model, and promises deeper personalization straight from your Facebook and Instagram activity.

A Social AI Experience

Meta’s new app isn’t just another chatbot. It adds a “Discover” feed where you can see and share AI-powered creations from your network. An early voice interface brings natural, conversational chat—think asking questions aloud and getting instant, context-aware replies. By tapping into its vast social graph, Meta aims to make its assistant feel more like a friend who knows your interests.

Under the Hood: Llama 4 and Personalization

At its core is Llama 4, Meta’s latest large language model, designed for improved reasoning, multilingual support, and efficiency. The app delivers personalized responses by drawing on user-specific elements—your likes, posts, and interactions across Facebook and Instagram. It also integrates with Meta’s AI glasses and companion app, making it a central hub for all things Meta AI.

Subscription Plans and Developer Push

Meta AI first rolled out in September 2023 within WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger. The new app will test a paid tier for advanced features in Q2 2025, though meaningful revenue may not arrive until 2026. To rally developers, Meta is hosting its inaugural LlamaCon event, showcasing the Llama family and tools for building next-gen AI experiences.

Implications for the AI Landscape

By decoupling Meta AI from its social platforms, Meta signals its seriousness in the AI arms race. The move boosts user choice, but also raises fresh data-privacy questions: how will Meta balance personalized AI with its ad-driven business model? As Meta, OpenAI, and Google vie for AI supremacy, users can expect faster innovation—but also more debates over how our data fuels these smart assistants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How is Meta AI different from ChatGPT and Gemini?
Meta AI leverages your social activity—likes, posts, follows—to deliver more tailored, socially relevant responses, and adds a “Discover” feed for shared AI creations.

Q2: What powers the new Meta AI app?
The app runs on Llama 4, Meta’s latest large language model, offering advanced reasoning, multilingual support, and tight integration with Meta’s AI glasses and companion app.

Q3: Will Meta AI charge for anything?
Meta plans to test a paid subscription for premium features in Q2 2025, but it warns significant revenue from these tiers may not arrive until 2026.

Sources CNN