Meta has launched a stand-alone artificial intelligence app designed to compete directly with ChatGPT. The new app, confirmed by Meta on Tuesday, is powered by the company’s Llama AI model. It includes a Discover feed showcasing how users interact with the assistant. It also provides suggested prompts to encourage more engagement. This development aligns with earlier reporting from CNBC in February, which cited sources familiar with Meta’s plans. The launch marks Meta’s most direct move yet in the intensifying AI competition. It is now in direct rivalry with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, and Elon Musk’s xAI Grok.
Expansion from an in-app chatbot to a dedicated tool
Meta first entered the Gen AI assistant space in September 2023 by integrating Meta AI into its core apps. By April 2025, the assistant had replaced the standard search bar across its social platforms. This includes Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger, reflecting Meta’s ambition to centralize AI across its ecosystem.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has positioned this shift as strategic. He said that this year, Meta AI will lead other assistants
“2025 is going to be the year when a highly intelligent and personalized AI assistant reaches more than 1 billion people, and I expect Meta AI to be that leading AI assistant.”
The Meta AI assistant has seen rapid adoption. According to Meta’s CFO, Susan Li, it reached 700 million monthly active users in January. This is an increase from the 600 million it recorded in December 2024.
The standalone app also follows moves by other major tech players. Both Google and xAI have released lone apps for their assistants — Gemini and Grok. This signals a broader trend of platform separation for AI tools.
Developer momentum and financial stakes
The announcement coincides with Meta’s first LlamaCon developer conference, hosted at the company’s Menlo Park headquarters. The event highlights the growing ecosystem around the Llama model family. It also serves as a key moment to showcase Meta’s AI capabilities.
Investors are closely watching Meta’s AI move for signs of near-term returns. In January, the company revealed plans to invest up to $65 billion this year in AI. It aims to boost its position in the Gen AI space. Meta is set to report its first – quarter earnings on Wednesday. Its report may offer further insight into the impact of its AI investments.
