Meta just confirmed it's testing a standalone version of Vibes, its AI-generated video platform that's been quietly gaining traction inside the Meta AI app since September. The move puts Meta in direct competition with OpenAI's Sora, which launched its own AI video social app in late January. The timing isn't coincidental - Meta's betting that AI-generated content deserves its own dedicated space, separate from its existing social empire. Think TikTok, but every video you scroll through was created by artificial intelligence, not humans with smartphones.
Meta is making its move in the AI video generation wars. The company confirmed Thursday it's testing a standalone app for Vibes, the AI-generated video platform that's been living inside Meta AI since its September launch. The decision to break Vibes out into its own app represents Meta's bet that AI-generated content has enough pull to stand apart from Instagram Reels and TikTok's human-created feeds.
"Following the strong early traction of Vibes within Meta AI, we are testing a standalone app to build on that momentum," Meta told TechCrunch in an emailed statement. "We've seen that users are increasingly leaning into the format to create, discover, and share AI-generated video with friends."
The timing matters. OpenAI launched Sora as a standalone AI video and social app in late January, just months after Meta rolled out Vibes. What started as a feature tucked inside Meta AI is now evolving into a full-fledged product, complete with plans for premium subscriptions. Meta won't share specific usage numbers, but the company claims Vibes has "performed well" and that Meta AI usage continues climbing steadily.
Vibes works like a remix culture on steroids. Users can generate videos from scratch using text prompts or grab any video from their feed and remix it - adding new visuals, layering music, adjusting styles. Once you're done, you can post directly to the Vibes feed, send it via DM, or cross-post to Instagram and Facebook Stories and Reels. Meta says collaboration and sharing are trending up, with many users messaging Vibes videos to friends in patterns that mirror how people use Reels.
