Meta is stepping up its AI game. After embedding Meta AI into WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, the company has now introduced a standalone Meta AI app.
Announced during the recent LlamaCon event, the app is designed to compete with AI chat platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemin, but with a key difference: it’s built on top of everything Meta already knows about you.
This move allows Meta to extend its AI assistant into a more flexible and direct experience for users, one that doesn’t rely solely on being tucked inside messaging apps. Just like you’d open ChatGPT on your phone, now you can do the same with Meta AI.
An AI That’s Already Familiar with You
What sets Meta’s AI apart is its ability to deliver highly personalized conversations by pulling from your existing Meta data. That includes your profile information, posts you’ve liked, and content you’ve interacted with across Facebook and Instagram. Meta says this gives its AI the ability to offer more context-aware and relevant answers. This is something most standalone AI apps can’t match.
Want your AI to know a little more? You can even share specific preferences with it, like your favorite music genres or that you’re vegetarian. This helps Meta AI offer more tailored suggestions down the line, such as recommending a jazz festival instead of a rock concert, or skipping steakhouse options when helping you plan dinner reservations.
Alongside this personalization, Meta has also introduced a Discover feed. This lets users share fun or creative conversations with their friends, similar to the way people previously shared AI-generated selfies or stylized avatars. You could ask something fun like, “If I were a movie genre, what would I be?” and then post the response if it hits the mark. Naturally, your chats stay private unless you choose to share.
Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Ready
Meta has also announced that the new app will be available on their smart glasses as well.
To integrate all our most powerful AI experiences, we’re merging the new Meta AI app with the Meta View companion app for Ray-Ban Meta glasses, and in some countries you’ll be able to switch from interacting with Meta AI on your glasses to the app.
Privacy Concerns
The app is currently available in the US and Canada, and while Meta hasn’t announced wider global availability yet, it’s likely to expand once feedback from early users rolls in.
Naturally, privacy concerns are part of the conversation. Meta’s AI relies heavily on user data, the same data that fuels its advertising engine. While the personalization is impressive, users should be aware of how their information might be used and stay mindful when sharing sensitive details.
Related: Meta Moves Threads to Threads.com, Web App Gets New Features
Meta is betting that familiarity breeds trust, and if the AI proves helpful enough, it might just work.
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