Meta's AI Assistant Monetization Plan

05/01/2025 Software

Meta's ambitious foray into the generative AI landscape with its standalone AI app is rapidly gaining traction, boasting nearly a billion monthly users. The company's strategy, however, extends beyond simply building a popular application; it encompasses a well-defined plan for monetization.

Monetizing the AI Assistant

Mark Zuckerberg recently revealed Meta's intention to integrate advertising and product recommendations into the AI assistant. This mirrors their approach with other platforms and leverages the substantial user base already established. The company also plans to introduce a premium subscription tier, providing users with enhanced computational power and functionalities for a fee. This multi-pronged approach aims to generate revenue streams from a diverse range of users.

While the focus remains on user growth and engagement for the foreseeable future, the foundation for future revenue generation is already being laid. The company anticipates a year of concentrating on user growth before fully implementing its monetization strategies.

Threads and Llama's Influence

Interestingly, Meta is also leveraging its Llama language model to power recommendations within its Threads application. Early tests indicate a noteworthy 4% increase in user engagement time following the integration of this model. The success with Threads, which now boasts 350 million monthly active users, serves as a strong indicator of the potential for similar strategies across different platforms. The company actively plans to expand the use of its AI capabilities to enhance recommendations for other content types, such as photos and videos, indicating a broader application of its AI tech in the future.