Meta has long been involved in AI development, but unlike ChatGPT, its models have typically been integrated within existing platforms. That changes today with the launch of the Meta AI app, a standalone application designed to compete with ChatGPT and offer even more functionality.
Powered by the cutting-edge Llama 4 model, the Meta AI app is designed to personalize your experience. It learns from your conversations and leverages information from your public Meta profiles to tailor its responses. Primarily voice-driven, Meta claims the app offers more natural and conversational interactions than previous AI assistants. Furthermore, it features experimental full-duplex voice technology, which generates audio responses directly rather than reading text, offering a potentially more immersive experience. Users can toggle this feature on and off to compare.
The most significant differentiator between Meta’s AI app and other AI chat apps is its social media integration. While rumors suggest OpenAI may have social media aspirations, Meta has taken a decisive lead. The app includes a “Discover” feed, a dedicated space for users to share their favorite prompts, responses, and overall interactions with the AI model. This social sharing element fosters idea exchange and promotes creative exploration of the LLM’s capabilities. While much of our daily AI usage might be mundane, there are moments when generating something unique or unexpected is worth sharing. The Discover feed provides the platform for such moments, although it’s also likely to become a repository for amusing AI hallucinations and errors.
The Meta AI app will also integrate with the Meta View companion app for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, making it an essential tool for those who own this hardware. Even without the glasses, the app is accessible on desktop, offering access to the Discover feed, image generation, and a rich document editor currently in development.
Given Meta’s history with European market entry, it’s unsurprising that many of the Meta AI app’s features are currently restricted to the U.S. and Canada. However, users in these regions can download the app immediately to experience these new capabilities.
