Meta Platforms is testing a new revenue stream with the launch of a Meta AI app premium tier, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced on the company's Q1 2025 earnings call this week. The action would put Meta on par with other tech giants with paid access to premium-tier AI features and prioritizing user growth over short-term profits.

The standalone Meta AI app, launched just a few days back, takes the company's generative AI assistant away from social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, and onto its own turf. The app allows you to chat with the AI bot, generate images, and more. Already, it has signed up nearly a billion users worldwide—a healthy beginning for Meta's latest innovation.

Paid Features in the Works

While Meta so far has continued its AI tool for free, Zuckerberg indicated that there is more and more opportunity to offer further capabilities for a charge. "There's an opportunity to offer a premium service to people who need to unlock more compute or more functionality," he said during the earnings call.

This Meta AI app premium tier would be directly in competition with similar products by OpenAI (ChatGPT Plus), Google (Gemini Advanced), and Microsoft (Copilot Pro). Premium tiers typically entail faster speed, early release of new features, and better models—something which can easily be replicated or even surpassed by Meta, given its massive user base.

AI Investment Hits $72 Billion

Zuckerberg further revealed that Meta doubled its spending on AI from the previously cited $65 billion to a staggering $72 billion. "We now expect to spend up to $72 billion on AI," he declared, highlighting the strategic significance of artificial intelligence to the company's long-term vision.

Even with a quarterly revenue of $42 billion, Meta does not seem to be in a hurry to monetize the AI app. Rather, Zuckerberg focused on the company's user adoption and engagement, saying, "I expect that we're going to be largely focused on scaling and deepening engagement for at least the next year."

Advertisements and Product Recommendations Coming Soon

In addition to subscriptions, Meta is also set to roll out ads and product recommendations to the AI experience. But Zuckerberg made clear that monetization would roll out later. "Before we're really ready to start building out the business," he said, Meta would like to optimize the user experience and develop its AI infrastructure.

This user-centric approach sets Meta apart from others, who have been quick to roll out premium models. By holding off on monetizing right away, Meta is attempting to build a more solid, loyal user base before introducing a premium-level Meta AI app.

Why This Matters

The introduction of a Meta AI app premium tier has the ability to significantly change the AI assistant industry. Having nearly a billion users already on board, Meta's foray into the paid AI space will have an impact on consumer behavior as well as the strategies of competing platforms.

Furthermore, the app's integration into Meta's broader ecosystem—spanning social media platforms to virtual and augmented reality—gives it a unique edge. With generative AI as the focus of digital experiences, having a capable assistant whose origin is in Meta's infrastructure might be the difference between a seamless and highly personalized user experience.

Conclusion

No official launch date has been released, but it appears that shortly Meta will be launching a paid version of its AI app. With a $72 billion injection and an enormous user base, Meta AI app premium level will likely be the foundation of the firm's new AI strategy. In the meantime, Meta is content to play the long game—focusing on scale, engagement, and customer satisfaction rather than opening the monetization faucet.