Meta AI
: How to use it, features, and the business problems it solves
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What is Meta AI?
An AI assistant from Meta Platforms, Inc. (US). Available inside Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp as well as on the web (meta.ai) and in a dedicated app, it answers questions, creates, edits and animates images, and can be called up in group chats with "@Meta AI". A gradual rollout in Japan began on November 25, 2025. Everyday use is free, and the paid Meta One subscription (Core ¥949/month, Premium ¥2,900/month, incl. tax) adds more generation capacity.
Business problems it solves
About "Meta AI"
What is Meta AI?
Meta AI is an AI assistant from Meta Platforms, Inc., the US company behind Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp. Like ChatGPT or Gemini, it can answer questions and create text and images—but its defining feature is that you can call it up right inside the social and messaging apps you already use.
According to Meta, more than 1 billion people use Meta AI every month. In Japan, a gradual rollout began on November 25, 2025, making it available in Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp as well as on the web (meta.ai). There is also a dedicated "Meta AI" app for iOS and Android, and the app on the Japanese App Store supports a Japanese-language interface.
Because of the gradual rollout, available features differ from person to person. Availability in Japan is expanding step by step, and new features are also released "in select markets" first. If you don't see the Meta AI icon in an app, or can't find a feature announced overseas, it may not have reached your account yet.
How to use
- Choose where to use it Use it inside Instagram, Facebook, Messenger or WhatsApp, on the web (meta.ai), or in the dedicated Meta AI app. In the social apps, tap the Meta AI icon in the search bar or chat screen.
- Ask in chat Type what you want to know or create—Japanese works too. You can also show it photos, videos or documents and ask about them (in the dedicated app).
- Call it in group chats Type "@Meta AI" in a group chat with friends to ask it questions mid-conversation, settle a debate, or have it make a custom GIF.
- Create and animate images Describe the image you want and Meta AI generates it. You can then refine the image or animate it.
Features
These are the main features listed in Meta's announcement for Japan (November 2025) and the official description on the Japanese App Store.
01Ask and look things up
- Answers to questions — From everyday questions to homework help, answered in chat
- Answers from photos and files — Ask about photos, videos, documents and files
- Reasoning mode — A mode that takes more time to think through complex problems (dedicated app)
- Answers informed by social content — Answers that draw on what's shared on Instagram, Facebook and Threads, plus shopping help and suggestions for local restaurants and places (dedicated app)
02Create
- Create, customize and animate images — Generate images from a description, then adjust or animate them
- Ideas and content creation — A creative sparring partner for album artwork, mood boards and more
- Vibes — Create and share short AI-generated videos (dedicated app)
03Use it together
- "@Meta AI" in group chats — Call it up in the flow of conversation to settle debates or make custom GIFs
- Private chats — The dedicated app also offers a private chat feature
- AI glasses — Hands-free control of AI glasses such as Ray-Ban Meta (dedicated app)
Source: Meta AI on the App Store
Muse Spark, the model behind Meta AI
Meta AI runs on large language models developed by Meta. It previously used Meta's open "Llama" series, but on April 8, 2026, Meta announced Muse Spark, a new model from its newly formed Meta Superintelligence Labs. Muse Spark is built for Meta's products and offers an "Instant" mode for quick answers and a "Thinking" mode for complex reasoning. Unlike Llama, the model itself is not openly released.
On July 24, 2026, Meta announced that, powered by the improved Muse Spark 1.1, Meta AI would gain the ability to plan and follow through on tasks, connect to email and calendar apps, create slides, deliver daily briefings and more. However, these features are rolling out "in select markets" in the Meta AI app and on meta.ai, and Meta has not officially said when they will be available in Japan.
Pricing
Everyday use of Meta AI is free. On September 15, 2026 (US time), Meta announced a paid subscription service, Meta One, which is also offered in Japan. Its individual "Core" and "Premium" plans let you use more of Meta AI's image creation and editing, video generation and similar features.
| Plan | Monthly price (incl. tax, Japan) | Main Meta AI-related benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ¥0 | Everyday use of Meta AI (answering questions, creating images, etc.) |
| Meta One Core | ¥949 | More usage of image creation/editing, video generation and more in Meta AI; more use of tools such as Instagram's Restyle |
| Meta One Premium | ¥2,900 | Everything in Core, plus the most content creation across Meta AI and Meta's apps |
Prices are the tax-inclusive amounts listed in Meta's official announcement for Japan (September 2026).
Privacy and things to keep in mind
- Conversations may be used for ads and recommendations: Meta announced that from December 16, 2025, it would use conversations with Meta AI (voice and text) to personalize the content and ads shown on Facebook and Instagram. Meta says it does not use topics such as religious views, sexual orientation, political views, health, or racial or ethnic origin for ads. You can adjust the ads you see in Ads Preferences
- Age: The Meta AI app is rated 13+ on the App Store
- Answers can be wrong: Like other generative AI, it can give inaccurate answers. Double-check anything about health or money with official sources or professionals
Pros and cons
Pros
- Works inside apps you already use, such as Instagram and WhatsApp—no new app required
- Everyday use is free, including image creation and animation
- You can use it together with friends in group chats
Cons
- Because of Japan's gradual rollout, features announced overseas (such as agent features) may not be available right away
- Conversation content is used to personalize ads and recommendations
- It has fewer work-oriented features and admin controls for document writing or coding than business-focused tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot
Reviews and reputation
On the Japanese App Store, the Meta AI app is rated 4.3 out of 5 (1,607 ratings, as of October 2026). Some reviewers praise using it with AI glasses, while others complain about its Japanese support and that animation results don't follow instructions.
FAQ
Q. Is Meta AI free? A. Yes. Meta says "everyday use of Meta AI will remain free." For people who want to generate more images and videos, there are paid Meta One Core (¥949/month) and Premium (¥2,900/month) plans.
Q. Can I use it in Japanese? A. Yes. A gradual rollout in Japan began on November 25, 2025, and you can talk to it in Japanese. The dedicated app also supports a Japanese interface.
Q. How do I use Meta AI on Instagram? A. Tap the Meta AI icon in the app, or type "@Meta AI" in a group chat. If you don't see the icon, it may not have reached your account yet.
Q. Are my Meta AI conversations used for ads? A. Meta announced that from December 16, 2025, conversations with Meta AI are used for content and ad recommendations. It says certain topics, such as religious views and health, are not used for ads.
How it differs from ChatGPT and Gemini
| Service | Provider | Where you use it | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta AI | Meta | Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, meta.ai, dedicated app | Call it up inside social and messaging apps; works in group chats |
| ChatGPT | OpenAI | Web, dedicated apps | General-purpose AI for writing, research, coding and more |
| Gemini | Web, dedicated apps, Google Workspace | Integrates with Google services such as Gmail and Docs | |
| Grok | xAI | X (formerly Twitter), web, dedicated apps | Strong on current topics drawn from posts on X |
| Microsoft Copilot | Microsoft | Windows, Edge, Microsoft 365 | Integrates with Office apps such as Word and Excel |
If you want easy access to AI inside social and messaging apps, Meta AI is a good fit. For in-depth writing and research at work, compare ChatGPT or Claude; for search with cited sources, Perplexity.
The information on this page is based on Meta's official announcements (Japanese and English) and the official listing on the Japanese App Store as of October 2026. Please check the official site for the latest features and pricing.
