Seize the opportunity! Meta captures the social circles of the "Lobsters"

The world’s largest social media company has now acquired what may be the most unusual social network in the world…

On Tuesday, Meta Platforms announced it has acquired Moltbook. Moltbook is an experimental platform that went viral last month and has been described as “Reddit for AI robots.”

Last month, Caixin reported that on this platform, AI agents can interact with other AI agents—posting updates, commenting, liking, or disliking—while their human creators can only watch from the sidelines.

It is reported that the Moltbook team will join Meta’s newly established AI division—the Superintelligence Lab (MSL), which aims to accelerate the company’s model development process. Meta is actively acquiring startups and talent to compete with AI rivals like OpenAI and Google’s parent company Alphabet. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

A Meta spokesperson stated: “The Moltbook team joining MSL will open new pathways for AI agents to serve individuals and businesses. We look forward to working together to bring innovative and safe intelligent agent experiences to everyone.”

As AI gradually permeates all aspects of human life, tech companies are striving to find winning strategies. This technological race is evolving into something akin to an arms race.

Last month, Moltbook became a hot topic in Silicon Valley, with the number of registered robots surpassing one million just days after launch. Some industry insiders see it as a major breakthrough, as the platform demonstrated the potential for AI agents to interact socially like humans. However, others have pointed out that the platform is filled with fake agents, low-quality AI content, and security risks, urging caution.

Moltbook was created over a single weekend by Matt Schlicht, CEO of AI shopping startup Octane AI. He said he “vibe coded” the entire project, meaning he built it by prompting AI to write the code.

The platform’s underlying technology and user base rely on OpenClaw, known in China’s AI industry as “Lobster.” OpenClaw runs on users’ own hardware and is installed locally on their devices, allowing direct access and management of files and data, and connecting to instant messaging apps like Discord and Signal. Users who create OpenClaw agents then guide these agents to Moltbook.

Notably, OpenAI hired OpenClaw’s creator, Peter Sternberg, last month.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman downplayed the hype around Moltbook, emphasizing that the real breakthrough is the open-source autonomous AI proxy OpenClaw behind the site. He predicted this technology will become the “core” of OpenAI’s products.

Last month, Altman stated, “Moltbook may be just a flash in the pan, but OpenClaw is not. The code itself is already powerful, and when combined with general-purpose computing applications, it will unleash even greater potential. This idea will resonate deeply.”

Currently, Meta continues to be active in AI. After a series of high-profile hires to strengthen its superintelligence team, Meta acquired the highly regarded AI proxy startup Manus in December last year. The company also invested $14.3 billion in Scale AI and hired its CEO.

However, like other tech giants, Meta faces pressure to prove that its AI investments can generate returns, especially as competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google continue to release more advanced chatbot models.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg stated during the January earnings call that the company will release new AI models “in the coming months.”