Meta Acquires Moltbook Boosts AI Lab; Tesla Runs FSD Ads on Facebook
Meta Platforms acquired Moltbook, an experimental AI agent network, onboarding founders to Superintelligence Labs around March 16 and boosting shares about 2%. Tesla began running FSD ads on Facebook ahead of a March 31 deadline, while German publishers urged antitrust action over Apple’s tracking rules.
1. Moltbook Acquisition Expands AI Capabilities
Meta Platforms has completed the acquisition of Moltbook, an experimental social network designed for autonomous AI agents, for an undisclosed sum. Co-founders Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr are set to join Meta Superintelligence Labs around March 16, aiming to accelerate research into agent-to-agent collaboration.
2. Tesla Initiates FSD Ads on Facebook
Tesla has launched targeted full self-driving advertisements on Facebook as it approaches a March 31 transfer-eligibility deadline for FSD purchases. The move marks a departure from Tesla’s historical reliance on word-of-mouth, leveraging Meta’s ad network to promote one of its highest-margin offerings.
3. German Publishers Seek Antitrust Action Against Apple
Associations representing German publishers, media agencies and advertisers have petitioned the national competition authority to reject Apple’s proposed tweaks to its App Tracking Transparency framework. They argue the changes fail to dismantle Apple’s control over advertising data, seeking fines of up to 10% of global revenue under antitrust law.
4. Meta Stock Reaction
Meta shares rose approximately 2% following the Moltbook deal announcement, reflecting investor optimism about enhanced AI research capabilities and the potential for increased high-margin advertising revenue from initiatives like Tesla’s FSD campaigns on Facebook.