The tech world buzzed with excitement as Meta launched its standalone AI app at the inaugural LlamaCon developer conference. The event, held in Menlo Park, California, served as a platform for Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella to discuss the future of AI and its impact on their respective companies and the world.
Meta's new AI app, powered by the company's Llama 4 AI model, is designed to compete directly with OpenAI's ChatGPT. Zuckerberg emphasized Meta's unique approach to AI, releasing it for free as an open-source product. He noted that over a billion people are already using Meta's AI products each month. The Meta AI app is integrated across Meta platforms and devices, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Ray-Ban Meta glasses. This integration allows users to access a personal AI experience everywhere.
A key feature of the Meta AI app is its "Discover" feed, which allows users to see how others are interacting with AI. Forrester Research Director Mike Proulx described the Discover feed as a version of the original Facebook Feed, but focused on AI use cases. By linking their Facebook and Instagram accounts, users can personalize their experience within the Meta AI app, leveraging the app’s access to user data to provide more curated responses. The app also boasts image generation and editing capabilities, along with a voice mode for more natural interactions. The voice mode features a "full duplex" capability, enabling conversational interactions similar to speaking with a human assistant.
During their discussion, Zuckerberg and Nadella explored the transformative role of AI in coding, open-source ecosystems, and enterprise productivity. They highlighted how AI is automating coding tasks, allowing developers to focus on higher-level problem-solving. Nadella mentioned that Microsoft tracks AI code acceptance rates, which are steadily increasing, particularly for languages like Python. He also noted that 20-30% of Microsoft's code is now AI-generated. Zuckerberg stated that Meta anticipates AI handling half of its software development within a year.
Nadella compared AI to previous major technological shifts, such as the rise of the web, mobile, and cloud computing. He emphasized that AI is prompting a rethinking of the entire technology stack, leading to the reinvention of tools, systems, and infrastructure. Both CEOs stressed the importance of balancing innovation with stability. Meta focuses on efficient, scalable models like Llama, while Microsoft's Azure provides infrastructure for both open and closed models.
Nadella also shared Microsoft's vision for a "distillation factory" on Azure, enabling developers to create tailored AI models for specific workflows. This democratization of AI model creation is expected to accelerate application development across various industries.
The launch of the Meta AI app and the discussions at LlamaCon 2025 highlight the growing importance of AI and its potential to revolutionize various aspects of technology and society. Meta's focus on open-source AI and its integration with social media platforms differentiate it from competitors like OpenAI. The collaboration and insights shared between Zuckerberg and Nadella suggest a future where AI is increasingly integrated into software development, enterprise solutions, and everyday life.
