Meta AI’s app downloads and daily users spiked after launch of ‘Vibes’ AI video feed

Recent statistics reveal a remarkable surge in the usage of Meta AI’s mobile app across both iOS and Android platforms. According to an analysis by market intelligence firm Similarweb, the app’s daily active user count soared to 2.7 million on October 17, a substantial increase from approximately 775,000 just a month earlier. Additionally, the app is now witnessing around 300,000 new downloads daily, up from under 200,000 in the preceding weeks.

To put this in perspective, a year ago on October 17, 2024, Meta AI’s app was only attracting about 4,000 daily downloads.

While Similarweb notes that it hasn’t observed any significant connection in relationship to search or advertising data, it points out that Meta may be engaging in promotional activities on Facebook or Instagram that its metrics do not capture.

Another potential factor for this notable increase could be the introduction of Meta’s Vibes feed in September, which features short-form AI-generated videos on the Meta AI app.

Launched on September 25, the Vibes feed appears to align with the uptick in daily active users on iOS and Android, as illustrated in the chart below.

OpenAI’s new video generator, Sora, has also made headlines recently, especially when it reached the top of the App Store due to user interest in exploring its innovative features. This surge could have additionally benefited Meta AI, as users may have sought to compare the two applications. While Similarweb emphasizes that its findings don’t establish a direct cause-and-effect link, it’s plausible that the spotlight on Sora led to increased curiosity in Meta AI.

Moreover, Meta may also be gaining from Sora’s invite-only approach, where users who are unable to access the OpenAI app might turn to alternatives like Meta AI for experimentation. This is an intriguing possibility, suggesting that OpenAI’s strategy of limiting access to Sora could inadvertently be propelling its competitors.

As of October 17, Meta AI’s app reported a significant 15.58% rise in daily active users globally, while competitors like ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity experienced declines of 3.51%, 7.35%, and 2.29%, respectively.