Launching as a standalone app and already woven into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, Meta’s new assistant uses your social data for personalization – but does its deep integration truly offer more than ChatGPT?
Meta has launched a standalone AI app, shortly after subtly ingraining it across their other products.
On their blog, they championed the release of their new Llama 4-powered software, with heavy emphasis on voice activation and the way it’s trained on conversational dialogue, as opposed to reading off a script like ChatGPT does.
The full-duplex chat mode is initially available in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
The app pulls its contextual data from Facebook and Instagram, with a view to tailoring its responses and personalization capabilities.
Other distinguishing features include a Discover feed, where you can share how you use AI in a social media-esque scroll feature.
Also, as is often the case with Meta, there’s a mention of Ray-Ban Meta glasses and syncing the wearable with the app itself.
Specs of frustration
Upon installing the app, I noticed that immediately after logging in, it prompted me to add a Meta device – specifically the Ray-Ban glasses.
The only two options were to add a device or go to the online store, and there was no way to bypass the screen.
Users took to social media to post their frustrations, awaiting feedback from Meta with bated breath.
All I am seeing… pic.twitter.com/WIazGApyXD
undefined Gareth Manning (@worldteacherman) April 29, 2025
Another poster revealed the memory function had interpreted her interests as including “Balkan humor” in a very detached, diagnostic analysis of the account holder.
The Meta AI app seems to be able to infer my interests and activity despite having zero memory, claims that I like “European and Balkan humor” in its system prompthttps://t.co/5scu7iSkMn pic.twitter.com/rkKRAhoxPe
undefined Jane Manchun Wong (@wongmjane) April 29, 2025
For those who did successfully manage to install the app, the available voices ranged from actress and comedian Awkwafina to the much-heralded Hollywood actress Judi Dench.
How does it compare to ChatGPT?
Cybernews put Meta’s new app to the test to see how it felt different from ChatGPT.
Starting out with a game of 20 Questions, Meta’s new assistant regularly conked out, even if it was able to play in spurts.
ChatGPT may have taken 17 guesses, but the lively version of its -40 version was keen, even engaging in a little playful banter and offered to switch roles.
Contextually, Meta’s AI app is brand new, whereas ChatGPT was first released on November 30th, 2022. Two and a half years is quite a big leg-up in this regard, and perhaps the conversational bot will eventually be better at games such as this.
Next, I thought I’d tap into self-awareness – and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from an AI infant. I asked them both to tell me what they admired about their AI rivals.
Meta’s AI bot was non-committal this time, though I suspect the deluxe version on the phone app – when they manage to successfully roll it out – will be more savvy.
As you’d expect, ChatGPT offered a mixture of astute observations and conversational curiosity, which naturally positions it as a market leader.
AI ubiquity
The idea of starting AI voice conversations while wearing Ray-Ban glasses feels like a spin in a different direction for Meta.
Paying $300 for a wearable/fashion accessory is a steep price, and is nowhere near mainstream adoption at this stage. This remains limited to a niche market.
Perhaps later down the line, this will be looked at as a game-changer – but only time will tell.
Meanwhile, Meta has also embedded AI across its entire ecosystem. Deep integration across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp means a watchful AI now lurks quietly in the background.
And now, a standalone app with a heavy emphasis on conversation offers a different kind of utility – albeit with “always-on” availability.
Whether or not users will embrace AI’s ubiquity, or feel a growing sense of fatigue will be a compelling situation to keep an eye on.
What next?
This is only the first version of the Meta AI app, and at the moment it feels like anything could happen.
The likelihood is that this AI will have a competitive advantage, given it may already know you quite well – especially if you're an active social media participant, with a treasure trove of data ready to tap into.
With ChatGPT having over 80% of the current AI market share, it remains to be seen whether Meta can cut this down – but they have a huge challenge on their hands.
And with other companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon also positioning themselves to dominate the AI+ecosystem space, the competition is only going to get stronger.
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