Technology giant Meta is to trial premium subscriptions for Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp users in the coming months.

The new offerings would give access to features including expanded artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

Under the plan, access to the platforms’ core services would remain free to use.

The firm also plans to test subscriptions for features, such as its Vibes video generation app, which the firm says “can bring your ideas to life with new AI visual creation tools”.

Meta announced Vibes in September as part of the latest version of the Meta AI app.

It also aims to use Manus, a Chinese-founded AI firm it bought in December for a reported $2bn (£1.46bn), in its subscription plans, according to TechCrunch, which first reported the story.

The company will also continue to offer standalone Manus subscriptions to businesses.

At the time, Meta said the deal would help improve its own AI by giving people access to “agents” – tools which can do complex things with minimal user interaction such as planning trips or making presentations.

“Manus’s exceptional talent will join Meta’s team to deliver general-purpose agents across our consumer and business products, including Meta AI,” it said in a blog post.

Based in Singapore after relocating from China, Manus has sought to set itself apart from rival AI developers with what it claims can be a “truly autonomous” agent.

Unlike many chatbots which need to be repeatedly asked for things before a user can get their desired response, Manus says its service can plan, execute and complete tasks independently in accordance with instructions.