Meta AI App Usage Surges After Launch of Vibes Video Feed
Key Points
- Meta AI's daily active users rose to 2.7 million by mid‑October, up from about 775,000 four weeks earlier.
- Daily app downloads increased to roughly 300,000 per day, surpassing the previous sub‑200,000 level.
- The surge aligns with the launch of the Vibes AI video feed on September 25.
- Similarweb data shows a 15.58% increase in worldwide daily active users for Meta AI.
- Competing AI chat apps reported declines: ChatGPT (‑3.51%), Grok (‑7.35%), Perplexity (‑2.29%).
- Interest in OpenAI's Sora video generator may have driven additional users to try Meta AI.
- Meta AI recorded only about 4,000 daily downloads a year earlier on October 17, 2024.
Meta AI's mobile app saw a sharp rise in daily active users and downloads following the introduction of its Vibes AI video feed. Daily active users on iOS and Android jumped to 2.7 million by mid‑October, up from roughly 775,000 four weeks earlier, while daily downloads climbed to about 300,000. The surge coincides with Vibes' debut on September 25 and may also reflect heightened interest in AI video generators after OpenAI's Sora launch. Meanwhile, competing AI chat apps reported declines in user activity during the same period.
Significant Growth in Meta AI App Metrics
New data from market intelligence provider Similarweb indicates that Meta AI's mobile app for iOS and Android experienced a notable increase in both daily active users (DAU) and downloads after the rollout of its Vibes AI video feed. As of October 17, the app's DAU reached 2.7 million, up from around 775,000 just four weeks prior. This represents a 15.58% rise in daily active users worldwide.
In parallel, daily app installations surged to roughly 300,000 new downloads per day, compared with under 200,000 daily downloads a few weeks earlier. For context, the app recorded only about 4,000 daily downloads a year earlier on October 17, 2024.
Vibes Feed Launch and Correlation
The Vibes feed, introduced on September 25, delivers short‑form AI‑generated videos within the Meta AI mobile experience. Similarweb's data shows a clear correlation between the launch of Vibes and the sharp increase in both DAU and download volume across platforms.
Potential Influence of OpenAI's Sora
Analysts have suggested that the heightened public interest in AI video generation sparked by OpenAI's Sora app may have also contributed to Meta AI's growth. While Similarweb notes that its data does not prove a causal link, the timing of Sora's prominence and the surge in Meta AI activity suggests that some users may have explored Meta AI as an alternative, especially given Sora's invite‑only status.
Competitive Landscape
During the same period, other AI chat applications experienced declines in user engagement. ChatGPT, Grok, and Perplexity saw reductions in daily active users of 3.51%, 7.35%, and 2.29% respectively, highlighting Meta AI's relative performance advantage amid a competitive market.
Implications and Outlook
The data underscores the impact that new feature releases, such as Vibes, can have on user adoption and engagement. It also illustrates how broader industry events—like the launch of a high‑profile AI video tool—can indirectly boost interest in competing platforms. Meta AI's continued growth in both user numbers and download rates positions it favorably as it expands its AI‑driven offerings.