Meta launches standalone app for its AI assistant on Mac devices

Meta has launched a standalone app for its Meta AI assistant on Mac devices, a move aimed at expanding the assistant’s use in productivity and work contexts and competing with office-focused AI applications.

The app allows users to share a specific window from their Mac screen with Meta AI, enabling the assistant to view the displayed content and provide relevant answers and suggestions. It also supports voice dictation within Mac apps, broadening its role from a mere conversational tool to a comprehensive office assistant.

The company is specifically targeting small business owners and content creators. Professional account holders on Facebook and Instagram can link Meta AI to their accounts, leveraging data from ad campaigns and post performance metrics. Additionally, the app enables linking professional accounts to Google Workspace, allowing the assistant to access information related to documents, spreadsheets, and other connected work tools, and to use this data for content creation and analytics.