Meta may soon charge you to use AI features on WhatsApp and Instagram
WhatsApp and Instagram users may soon have to pay to use AI features. Meta is reportedly testing subscriptions for special features to increase productivity and creativity.
According to a report, Meta is preparing to launch a new subscription plan soon. This initiative of Meta aims to provide special features on its apps – Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. This subscription is said to unlock AI-enhanced capabilities as well as greater “productivity and creativity” for its users.
According to TechCrunch, the core experience of the apps will remain free. The plan is simply to “give users access to exclusive features and more control over how they share and connect.” The meta doesn’t stick to a fixed plan. The report says it will test different subscription features and bundles and each app will offer its own special features.
Meta’s AI features, such as the Vibes video generator, are expected to come under the new subscription. “Vibes” was launched in September last year, letting users create and remix AI-generated videos on its feed. Vibes has been free since its rollout; This time Meta aims to provide “freemium” access to Vibes video creations.
Meta will also include recently acquired AI agents, known as Manus, in its subscription plans. Meta Platform had bought Manus, a China-founded and Singapore-based company, in December for a reported $2 billion (approximately Rs 183,374,990).
“Meta is taking a dual approach towards Manus,” the report said. The company can integrate Manus into Meta’s products, offering separate subscription plans for businesses. Tipster Alessandro Paluzzi recently shared screenshots showing that Meta is working on adding Manus AI to Instagram.
What this subscription looks like for WhatsApp and Facebook still remains a mystery. Paluzzi shared that the new Instagram membership will allow users to create unlimited audience lists, see which followers don’t follow them, and view stories without the person knowing they were viewed.
Meta told TechCrunch that the new subscription will be separate from Meta Verified. Meta will use what it learned from the first Meta Verified to improve its subscription service and add more features for everyday users, creators, and businesses.
