Meta has quietly launched a new social media app called Meta Pocket , which lets users create, share, and discover interactive mini-experiences known as “ gizmos ” — all through simple text prompts. The move marks the company’s strategic expansion into gaming and generative AI , changing the way we think about social media.
Pocket 's development is a direct result of the acquisition of the R&D team of Atma Sciences Inc. , the company that created the Gizmo app , earlier in 2026. At the same time, Meta acquired a non-exclusive license to use its technology. The app first appeared on the App Store and Google Play on June 29, 2026 , without an official announcement from the company, which suggests that it is still in the experimental phase.
See also: Apple Arcade brings 'Family Feud Pocket' and 4 other games
Pocket integrates Meta’s existing AI capabilities, including its “ Imagine with Meta AI ” image generator and the company’s AI assistant, allowing for the creation of games with the logic of “ vibe coding ” — without requiring traditional programming knowledge. According to the description on Google Play, the gizmos “ respond to the touch and tilt of the phone, play sound effects and favorite songs, can use the camera or pull photos from your gallery .”
Meta Pocket: What are gizmos and how do they work?
A gizmo is described by Meta as a “playable AI-generated experience” — an interactive experience that is created by artificial intelligence and can be played with. Users can create their own gizmo via a simple text prompt and then share it with others. When publishing, there is an option to allow others to “remix” it, creating a community content ecosystem similar to — but different from — that of Roblox.
The app’s feed lets users scroll through gizmos from people around the world, and some of them can even “reflect on the world around them,” according to Meta. This reasoning capability suggests that the company plans to leverage its more advanced AI models to create complex interactive experiences within Pocket.
See also: Meta adds AI assistant and desktop version to Edits app
It is worth noting that Atma Sciences ' predecessor Gizmo app had recorded 635,000 lifetime installs on iOS and Google Play with an impressive 98% positive review rate . These numbers were clearly an incentive for Meta to invest in this particular direction.
Meta Pocket and the competition: Roblox and Unity under pressure
The launch of Pocket puts Meta directly in the crosshairs of established gaming and creative content platforms like Roblox and Unity Software.
The broader industry is moving towards AI-generated content (AIGC) and “ co-creation ” platforms , where users create interactive media through prompts rather than manual design. Meta is capitalizing on this trend, while also expanding its application portfolio beyond the classic core ( Facebook , Instagram , WhatsApp ) into the gaming space. Analysts point out that the acquisition of Atma Sciences is a strategic move to accelerate Meta’s entry into the industry.
The company has increased its capital spending projections for 2026 to $125 billion to $145 billion to support its AI infrastructure, which shows the huge financial commitment behind projects like Pocket.
See also: Apple introduces limited edition iPhone Pocket
Meta Pocket is currently unavailable in the US or in all markets worldwide . Two US-based reporters for The Verge confirmed that the app is showing a “not available in your country” message on Google Play, and is also absent from the US App Store. Meta states in its help center that the app “is not yet available everywhere,” suggesting a gradual rollout.
Pocket represents a critical step in Mark Zuckerberg ’s vision for social media as a platform for interactive AI experiences. If the app successfully expands to more markets and the quality of the AI-generated gizmos proves satisfactory, Meta could reshape the way millions of users interact with digital content — transforming every user from a passive viewer into a creator of interactive experiences.
