Meta AI’s mobile app is suddenly in the spotlight and the numbers are soaring. According to a new analysis from Similarweb, the app’s daily active users across iOS and Android jumped to 2.7 million as of October 17, up from around 775,000 just four weeks earlier. App downloads are also booming, reaching 300,000 new installs per day, compared with fewer than 200,000 daily installs just weeks ago. For perspective, Meta AI had only 4,000 daily downloads a year ago, on October 17, 2024.

The Vibes Feed Effect

So, what’s fueling this explosive growth?
Analysts suggest the biggest factor could be the launch of Meta’s new “Vibes” feed a short-form AI-generated video feature introduced on September 25.

The timing lines up perfectly: soon after Vibes debuted, Meta AI’s user activity spiked dramatically across both platforms. The new feature gives users a feed of creative, AI-generated videos, making the app more engaging and visually immersive and turning it from a simple AI assistant into a source of entertainment.

Beyond Ads and Promotions

Similarweb reports no strong correlation between app growth and Meta’s advertising or search trends, though it’s possible Meta is quietly promoting the app across Facebook and Instagram channels that wouldn’t show up in public ad-tracking data.

But the organic jump suggests something bigger: users are genuinely interested in AI-driven creativity and new forms of interactive media.

OpenAI’s Sora Buzz: A Hidden Boost?

Interestingly, Meta’s rise comes just as OpenAI’s video generator “Sora” captured global attention by topping the App Store charts.

Even though Similar web can’t prove direct cause and effect, it’s possible that Sora’s buzz encouraged users to explore similar experiences leading many to download Meta AI.

And because Sora remains invite-only, many curious users may have turned to Meta AI as a free, accessible alternative. Ironically, this means OpenAI’s exclusivity may have helped its competitor grow.

Meta AI Grows, Rivals Decline

Meta AI’s worldwide daily active users increased by 15.58% as of October 17. In contrast:

• ChatGPT saw a decline of 3.51%
• Grok dropped by 7.35%
• Perplexity fell by 2.29%

Meta’s strong upward momentum highlights how its new AI video experiences are drawing attention — even in a crowded market of powerful AI tools.

Meta’s success with Vibes shows that AI-powered creativity is becoming a major attraction for users. Instead of just answering questions or writing text, AI is now creating entertainment, giving people a new reason to open the app daily. By blending social media-style engagement with generative AI, Meta is positioning itself not just as a tech company but as a leader in the next wave of AI-powered digital experiences. If this growth continues, Meta AI could soon become one of the most widely used AI platforms in the world.