Meta Platforms is rolling out paid subscriptions for Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, aiming to shrink its reliance on ads. The move targets a slice of its 3.5 billion daily users who will pay for premium features and an AI chatbot test. With ad revenue already covering 97.6% of last year’s sales, the shift signals a desperate bid for diversification in the near term for now.

The subscription push arrives as Meta’s AI spending outpaces rivals. Planned capital outlays this year dwarf those of Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon relative to market value, forcing the company to tap debt markets and consider equity raises. Lacking a cloud, software or e‑commerce platform, Meta cannot monetize its AI breakthroughs beyond the consumer apps it already owns.

Investors watch the experiment closely because subscription revenue could cushion a looming earnings drag. If uptake proves low, Meta may double down on cost cuts or accelerate asset sales, further straining its balance sheet. The company’s ability to turn its massive user base into a steady cash stream will determine whether it can stay afloat without a broader product ecosystem.