The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
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Meta is planning to trial premium subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp in the coming months as part of its ongoing exploration of paid features.
The subscriptions would provide users with access to enhanced tools, including expanded artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, while the platforms’ core services will remain free.
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Meta also intends to test subscription access for other products, such as its Vibes video generation app, which offers AI-powered visual creation tools to help users bring their ideas to life. Vibes was introduced in September as part of the latest Meta AI app update.
Additionally, Meta plans to incorporate Manus, a China-founded AI company it agreed to acquire in December for around $2 billion (£1.46 billion), into its subscription services, according to TechCrunch. Standalone Manus subscriptions will continue to be available to businesses.
Meta said the acquisition would enhance its AI offerings by providing users with “agents”—tools capable of performing complex tasks with minimal input, such as planning trips or creating presentations.
“Manus’s exceptional talent will join Meta’s team to deliver general-purpose agents across our consumer and business products, including Meta AI,” the company noted in a blog post.
After relocating from China to Singapore, Manus has positioned itself as a developer of “truly autonomous” AI agents. Unlike typical chatbots that require repeated prompts, Manus agents can independently plan, execute, and complete tasks according to user instructions.
Earlier this month, Beijing announced it would investigate the Meta acquisition to determine whether it violated Chinese technology export laws or national security regulations.
Meta has previously experimented with subscription-style limitations. Last year, it tested restricting the number of links some users could share in Facebook posts in the UK and US, citing the trial as a way to see whether higher posting capacity would appeal to subscribers.
In 2023, Meta also rolled out a paid verification service, offering Facebook and Instagram users a blue tick for a monthly fee.
