Meta Platforms (META) is set to unveil a standalone Meta AI app aimed at competing with offerings from rivals such as OpenAI and Alphabet’s (GOOGL) Google, as reported by CNBC on Thursday. According to sources familiar with the situation, the app is slated for release in the second quarter. Currently, Meta AI can be accessed through web browsers and via existing Meta applications like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. Meta has not yet responded to a request for comment. During Meta's earnings call in January, CEO Mark Zuckerberg mentioned that Meta AI “is going to be one of the most transformative products that we've created, ” potentially reaching 1 billion users this year. CFO Susan Li indicated on the call that the AI assistant has already reached 700 million monthly active users, as noted in a transcript from AlphaSense.

This announcement comes alongside Meta's plans to significantly invest in AI, with anticipated capital expenditures ranging from $60 billion to $65 billion, an increase from $39 billion in 2024. The report also indicates that Meta may adopt a subscription-based model, similar to how competitors like OpenAI, Elon Musk’s xAI, and others monetize their premium offerings. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude, Google’s Gemini, Microsoft’s (MSFT) Copilot, and DeepSeek all have standalone applications available.