Facebook parent Meta has its own stake in the field of AI chatbots, but it hasn’t quite made a splash that’s comparable to rival AI companies. But in recent times, the company appears to be making moves that make it a bit more comparable to the competition. Reports point to the company not only giving its AI chatbot a standalone app, but also locking more advanced features behind paid subscriptions.
CNBC cites sources that claim that Meta is planning to launch a dedicated app for the aforementioned AI chatbot, a claim that has been corroborated by The Verge. This is currently said to be launching in the second quarter of the year, allowing it to be access through other channels besides the company’s own services like Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.
The report also mentions that Meta also has plans for a paid subscription service for the same AI chatbot, where more advanced versions of it will be locked behind. While the CNBC report doesn’t provide dates for these, Reuters note that tests for the chatbot will also begin in the second quarter. That being said, the actual service is not expected to “earn meaningful revenue until next year at the earliest”.
Even if these plans go without a hitch, it’s probably safe to expect them to have a delayed rollout to our shores. After all, when Meta first announced the integration of its AI chatbot into its other services, it look about three months before the update hit the local market.
