Meta’s Next AI Gold Mine? Muse Targets 200 Million Small Businesses As Zuckerberg Eyes Fees, Subscriptions

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:META) is positioning Muse as a broader growth platform spanning consumers, small businesses, and commerce, with President and Vice Chairman Dina Powell McCormick pointing to Meta’s massive user base, enterprise reach, and potential new revenue streams from fees and subscriptions.Muse Expands Into Small BusinessMcCormick told CNBC on Wednesday that Muse has become the No. 1 downloaded app on App Store, with millions of downloads since launch. Unlike traditional AI tools that mainly answer questions, she said Muse can act on users’ behalf by planning travel, handling tasks and completing transactions.Meta is now expanding the product through Muse for Small Business, which can start customer conversations, manage cash flow and inventory, build websites and communicate directly with customers.The opportunity gives Meta access to roughly 200 million small-business owners already using its platforms, allowing the company to extend relationships that previously centered on operations and advertising into AI-powered business services.Meta Sees New Monetization PathsMcCormick highlighted Meta’s 3.6 billion daily users and said AI products from its research labs are strengthening the company’s core business.She said Meta is considering charging a fee when Muse helps users save money and could also pursue subscriptions as engagement increases.“Uh, Muse right now helps a lot of people save money, and so we’re thinking through, as Mark described last week, the potential of taking a fee when we help you save money,” McCormick said.“Uh, and we’re already seeing people that have downloaded Muse are so excited to use it even more. So, the more you use it, we may have opportunities, obviously, for subscriptions as well.”Partnerships Broaden Muse’s ReachMeta is integrating partners including Shopify, Slack and Walmart into Muse, allowing users and businesses to manage inventory, communicate with customers and complete purchases through the platform.McCormick also emphasized productivity gains. She said small businesses using Muse are reporting that they can reclaim one to three hours each day, freeing owners to focus more directly on running and expanding their businesses.She framed Meta’s longer-term AI opportunity around making advanced AI broadly accessible, arguing that wider access could support education, healthcare, business productivity, and other applications.Meta Top ETF Exposure Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF (NYSE:IGPT): 9.18% Weight Natixis Loomis Sayles Focused Growth ETF (NYSE:LSGR): 8.12% Weight Invesco Nasdaq Internet ETF (NASDAQ:PNQI): 7.89% Weight Significance: Because META carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.Meta Price ActionMETA Stock Price Activity: Meta Platforms shares were down 0.38% at $736.00 during premarket trading on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.Photo via Shutterstock Read Also: Meta Makes Its Biggest Enterprise AI Push yet, Zuckerberg Wants Businesses Running on Its AI Stack