How to Play Meta Platforms Stock Before It Launches a Consumer AI Agent

One of the most closely watched investment themes in recent years has been the accelerating focus on artificial intelligence (AI), and social media giant Meta Platforms (META) is certainly leaning heavily into the trend. The company is reportedly preparing to take its AI ambitions a major step further, with plans to launch a consumer-facing AI agent in the coming weeks and roll out a new AI model as early as October, according to The Information, citing internal documents. The consumer AI agent, internally known as “Hatch,” is built on Meta’s OpenClaw AI agent and could debut as soon as late August or early September.

Unlike a conventional chatbot, Hatch is designed to interact directly with external websites and services, potentially allowing users to accomplish tasks across platforms such as DoorDash (DASH), Etsy (ETSY), Reddit (RDDT), Yelp (YELP), and Microsoft (MSFT) Outlook. And, Meta is exploring ways to bring third-party AI agents into WhatsApp. The company is reportedly preparing a feature that would allow users to connect with external AI agents, with limited testing potentially beginning as soon as this week. The potential business opportunity is also attracting attention.