Meta Eyes Paid AI Access as Rivals Move on Its Ad Revenue

*Meta plans to charge users for its chatbot while OpenAI and xAI target the advertising business that still funds nearly all of the company's operations.*

Meta is preparing subscriptions for its AI chatbot. The goal is to generate direct revenue from the tool. At the same time its main competitors are building products aimed at pulling advertisers away from Meta's platforms.

The company's current model depends on targeted advertising across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Any meaningful loss of ad spend would require Meta to replace that income quickly through new channels such as AI subscriptions.

Bloomberg Technology reports that the social giant wants to make money from its chatbot, but its core business may be at risk.

Why it matters

Meta's move shows it is willing to test whether users will pay for AI features on top of an otherwise free service. The risk is real: if rivals succeed in shifting ad budgets, Meta will have to prove that subscription revenue can scale fast enough to offset the damage. The outcome will test how durable its advertising advantage really is.

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Sources:

• Bloomberg Technology

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