Meta plans to launch a standalone AI application in the second quarter, exploring paid subscriptions

According to informed sources, Meta Platforms (META.O) plans to release a standalone Meta AI APP in the second quarter. The Meta AI chatbot was launched in September 2023, and the company positions it as a generative AI digital assistant that can provide responses and create images based on user prompts in existing applications. The company also plans to test a paid subscription service for Meta AI, similar to how OpenAI and Microsoft charge users monthly fees. In January of this year, Meta's Chief Financial Officer stated that while Meta AI is striving to "create an excellent consumer experience," there are "quite obvious profit opportunities over time, including paid referrals and premium services."