AI technology is booming rapidly, and Meta has just made a bold move by launching two new Meta AI Llama 4 models this Saturday. This release comes on the heels of OpenAI’s latest upgrade to ChatGPT, which now includes native image generation — enabling it to create highly detailed, realistic, and visually stunning images. These new capabilities have already sparked excitement online, with trends like Studio Ghibli-style images going viral.
Now that Meta is stepping up with its own powerful AI models, the big question is: how does Meta AI stack up against ChatGPT? Let’s dive into a side-by-side comparison of both chatbots to see which one comes out on top.
Meta vs. ChatGPT: Which Chatbot Comes Out on Top?
When it comes to benchmarks, Meta claims its Llama 4 Maverick model has the edge over OpenAI’s GPT-4o, especially in areas like coding, reasoning, multilingual support, long-form context handling, and image processing.
As of now, on the LMarena leaderboard, Llama 4 Maverick is ahead of both GPT-4o and the GPT-4.5 Preview, ranking second overall—just behind Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro (Experimental).
That said, it’s worth remembering that these benchmark rankings are constantly shifting as each model receives updates and improvements.
Meta says that its Llama 4 Maverick model is great at creative writing and precise image-related tasks. But honestly, there’s no definitive way to prove which AI is better unless you test both Meta AI and ChatGPT side by side over time with a wide range of prompts.
Image Generation
Meta has been vocal about Llama 4’s native multimodal abilities, meaning it can understand and respond to image inputs. However, these features are currently limited to English and only available in the U.S., with no official word yet on a global rollout.
On the other hand, ChatGPT’s built-in image generator is already impressing users around the world. It not only creates highly contextual and photorealistic images, but also allows users to edit uploaded images in various styles — making it one of the best free options available right now.
Other Key Features: Meta AI vs. ChatGPT
While Meta’s new Llama 4 model is a big leap forward compared to its earlier versions, its chatbot still trails behind ChatGPT in several key areas.
One major difference is the lack of a dedicated reasoning model in Meta’s lineup—at least for now. That could change soon, as Meta is expected to announce a Llama 4 Reasoning model during its upcoming LlamaCon event on April 29. For context, reasoning models like OpenAI’s o1 or o3-Mini, and DeepSeek R1, take a little longer to process prompts but are designed to think more like humans. They excel in complex tasks like math, science, and coding—offering deeper, more thoughtful responses.
Also, the current Llama 4 Maverick isn’t Meta’s most powerful version. That title will go to the upcoming Llama 4 Behemoth, which is being developed to compete directly with GPT-4.5 and Claude Sonnet 3.7. So, while Maverick is impressive, it’s not the final form of Meta’s AI efforts.
Meanwhile, ChatGPT has just introduced a Deep Research mode, which lets the bot search the web thoroughly to deliver responses that aim to match the quality of a human research assistant. While results might not always hit the mark, this feature is a big deal—especially since similar tools are already being used by platforms like Perplexity AI, Grok, and Gemini.
Pricing & Availability: Meta AI vs. ChatGPT
One big win for Meta AI is its accessibility. The Meta AI Llama 4 Maverick model currently appears to offer free usage, including image generation, and it’s integrated into apps you probably already use—like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. That makes it incredibly convenient for casual users.
When it comes to ChatGPT, OpenAI limits access to its latest ChatGPT models. Free users often get only a handful of interactions with the newest version before being switched back to an older one. Plus, image generation is currently capped at 3 images per day for free users. You’ll also need to sign up on OpenAI’s website or app to use ChatGPT at all.
