Meta AI app downloads and number of daily users soared after the launch of the “Vibes” AI video feed

New data indicates that usage of the Meta AI mobile app for iOS and Android has seen a significant increase. According to a new analysis from market intelligence provider Sameweb, the number of daily active users of the app across both platforms jumped to 2.7 million as of October 17, up from about 775,000 just four weeks ago. In addition, Meta AI app installs have also spiked, reaching 300,000 new downloads per day, compared to less than 200,000 daily downloads a few weeks ago.

For comparison, the Meta AI app had just 4,000 daily downloads a year ago, on October 17, 2024.

The company says it didn’t see any meaningful correlation in search or advertising estimates, but noted that Meta may be running promotions on Facebook or Instagram that couldn’t be captured in its model.

However, there is also another possible explanation for the sharp rise: the launch of Meta’s new Vibes feed in September, which brought short, AI-generated videos to the Meta AI mobile app.

Meta AI introduced the Vibes feed on September 25, which correlates to the sharp increase in the number of daily active users of the app on iOS and Android, as shown in the graph below.

Recently, OpenAI’s Sora video generator made headlines when its app reached the top of the App Store as users rushed to try out the new technology. However, Meta AI could have benefited from this launch as well. While Sameweb says its data doesn’t prove cause and effect, it’s possible that interest in Sora prompted some people to try Meta AI, in order to compare the two experiences.

Another possibility is that the Meta might take advantage of Sora’s invite-only status. That is, those who were not able to try out the OpenAI application may have looked for an alternative to try. This would be an interesting explanation, too, because it suggests that OpenAI’s decision to monitor Sora’s portal may have directly boosted its competitors.

As of October 17, Meta AI saw a 15.58% increase in daily active users worldwide, while ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity saw declines of 3.51%, 7.35%, and 2.29%, respectively.