Meta is testing a standalone Vibes app, the company confirmed to TechCrunch on Thursday. Launched last September, Vibes lets you create and share AI-generated short-form videos and access a special feed that features AI videos from others.
Think TikTok or Instagram Reels, but every video you come across is created with artificial intelligence. Until now, the stream was live in the Meta AI app. By making Vibes available outside of the Meta AI app, the company is positioning it as a more direct competitor to Sora, OpenAI’s AI-powered video and social app that launched shortly after Vibes.
“Following the strong early traction of Vibes on Meta AI, we’re testing a standalone app to build on that momentum,” Meta said in an emailed statement. “We’ve seen users increasingly lean towards creating, discovering and sharing AI-generated video with friends. This standalone app provides a dedicated home for that experience, offering people a more focused and immersive environment. We’ll look to further expand the app based on what we learn from the community.”
The news was first reported by Platform.
Meta says it isn’t sharing specific numbers, but claims Vibes has performed well, with Meta AI usage continuing to grow steadily since its launch, which it believes signals demand for a standalone app.
The tech giant also notes that while users engage with content in Meta AI, a standalone app allows for a more focused creation and engagement experience.
Vibes allows users to create a video from scratch or remix a video they see in their feed. Before publishing, you can add new graphics, layer music, and adjust styles. You can then post the video directly to your Vibes feed, DM it to others, or cross-post to Instagram and Facebook Stories and Reels.
Meta says collaboration and sharing are on the rise, with many Vibes videos being messaged to friends, which the company says reflects how people use Reels.
It’s worth noting that Meta told TechCrunch last week that, in addition to testing new premium subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, it will explore subscriptions for AI features, including Vibes.
Although Vibes is free from launch, Meta plans to offer free access to Vibes video creation, with the option to sign up to unlock additional video creation opportunities each month. Meta plans to roll out these trial memberships in the coming months.
