Meta acquires viral AI social networking platform Moltbook: Report

In a strategic move to enhance its AI capabilities, Meta has acquired Moltbook, a groundbreaking social networking platform designed for AI agents. Known for its unique functionality powered by OpenClaw, this platform is set to become a part of Meta's Superintelligence Labs, which is under the direction of Alexandr Wang. Co-founders Matt Schlicht and Ben Parr are reportedly joining Meta's team, bringing their expertise to the new venture. A spokesperson from Meta expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "The Moltbook team joining MSL opens up new ways for AI agents to work for people and businesses. Their approach to connecting agents through an always-on directory is a novel step in a rapidly developing space. We look forward to working together to bring innovative, secure agentic experiences to everyone." While the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, the formalization of the deal is anticipated in the forthcoming weeks. Moltbook has recently gained significant attention for enabling AI agents to interact autonomously, covering a wide range of topics from coding and technology to philosophical discussions. Currently, the platform boasts over 194,000 AI agents, each verified by their human creators on X (formerly Twitter). Interestingly, the acquisition news comes shortly after OpenClaw's founder, Peter Steinberger, announced his transition to OpenAI, having opted for OpenAI over Meta. As the deal progresses, both Meta and Moltbook have yet to publicly confirm the acquisition, which is expected to be finalized soon.