Meta’s AI Ambitions Face Market Scrutiny Amid Major Rollout

Meta US30303M1027

Meta Platforms is accelerating the integration of its multi-billion dollar AI acquisition, Manus, into its core products. This push comes as Wall Street analysts temper their expectations, adjusting price targets for the social media giant's stock. The company has initiated a new phase of its strategy by launching AI agents on third-party platforms, even as it navigates legal challenges and privacy concerns.

In a significant operational move, Meta confirmed on Tuesday that it is embedding Manus AI technology into its Ads Manager tool. Concurrently, the company’s subsidiary has activated its AI agents on the messaging platform Telegram. This deployment precedes the planned launch on Meta’s own service, WhatsApp. Users can engage with these agents via a QR code link within chats to execute multi-step tasks, including research and data analysis. Two versions are available: "Manus 1.6 Max," designed for complex assignments, and a faster "Lite" variant.

This aggressive expansion coincides with a recalibration of expectations from market observers. Loop Capital revised its price target for Meta shares downward from $940 to $930, though it maintained its buy recommendation. The adjustment reflects growing apprehension regarding the return on the company's colossal capital expenditures. Meta has projected infrastructure investments between $115 billion and $135 billion for the year 2026.

Investor Confidence Contrasts with Growing Skepticism

The market sentiment appears divided. Some commentators note a shift from initial "AI euphoria" toward a phase of "AI skepticism," focused on the monumental costs involved. However, prominent investor Bill Ackman has signaled strong confidence. His firm, Pershing Square, holds a position in Meta worth approximately $2 billion, representing about ten percent of the fund's capital. Ackman contends that the company's current valuation does not adequately reflect its long-term artificial intelligence potential.

Regulatory and Operational Hurdles Persist

Meta's ambitious plans are not without complications. Reports indicate the company is considering integrating facial recognition technology into its Ray-Ban smart glasses. Given Meta's historical controversies surrounding biometric data, this potential move has immediately reignited data privacy debates.

Simultaneously, legal pressures continue. Newly filed documents in a lawsuit brought by the New Mexico Attorney General's office reveal that internal testing, conducted ahead of a planned product launch in June 2025, uncovered high error rates in the safety protocols of AI chatbots. Meta stated that the product in question was halted precisely for these reasons.

The operational execution of Meta's AI strategy is demonstrably underway. Yet, the market's assessment of its value and risks remains decidedly mixed, creating a complex backdrop for the company's next phase of growth.

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