Meta: A Digital Estate

What, one asks oneself, is the most promising parcel of digital land to acquire in this, the year of our Lord 2026? Many contenders present themselves, shimmering mirages in the silicon desert. But after the recent accounting from Meta Platforms (META 2.95%), a certain solidity, a peculiar heft, has begun to manifest. It is, perhaps, a worthy estate to consider—or even, dare one say, the most promising of all. Let us examine the seven peculiarities that suggest as much.

1. The Alchemy of Advertising

Meta remains, despite the prognostications of doom and the endless parade of new platforms, a veritable behemoth of digital advertisement. Its revenues soared in the last quarter, a sum so large it could comfortably fund a small principality. And this growth, observe, is not merely accidental. It is the result of a subtle, almost unsettling, transformation wrought by artificial intelligence. The very algorithms that govern the flow of advertisements have been… altered. They now possess a certain… eagerness.

The architecture of their “GEM” model, they claim, has been rearranged. Doubled, even, the number of those peculiar “GPUs” used to train it. It is as if they have constructed a vast, humming brain, fed on data and driven by an insatiable hunger for clicks. And the results? A mere 3.5% increase in clicks on Facebook, and a paltry 1% on Instagram. One might scoff, but consider the scale. These are not percentages; they are fortunes. And the company promises… more. More clicks, more conversions, more… everything.

2. The Automaton Engineers

The speed at which these digital structures are erected is, of course, paramount. And Meta, it appears, has discovered a most curious shortcut. They call it “agentic coding”—a phrase that conjures images of tiny, tireless automatons toiling away in the server rooms. These agents, powered by artificial intelligence, write, test, and debug software with minimal human intervention. The engineers, one suspects, are becoming… redundant.

Output per engineer has increased by 30% since the beginning of 2025. A staggering 80% for those “power users” who have fully embraced the algorithmic overlords. One can almost hear the sighs of relief from the accounting department. And the CFO, Susan Li, assures us that this growth will accelerate. It is as if the very fabric of productivity is being… stretched. One wonders, naturally, what these freed-up engineers will do with all their time.

3. Spectacles and the Shifting Gaze

Sales of Meta’s AI-powered smart glasses have more than tripled. A curious phenomenon, to be sure. One recalls the history of spectacles—first a necessity, then a fashion, now… a portal? Mark Zuckerberg, that most diligent of observers, suggests we are at a moment similar to the arrival of smartphones. A bold claim, perhaps, but consider: billions of people already wear glasses. And to imagine a world where most glasses are not AI glasses… well, it seems… improbable. It is as if the very act of seeing is about to be… augmented. One shivers, slightly.

4. The Looming Superintelligence

Some have dismissed Zuckerberg’s pronouncements about developing “personal superintelligence” as mere grandstanding. A distraction, perhaps, from the more mundane realities of quarterly earnings. But consider the implications. An AI that understands your history, your interests, your very soul. It is a chilling thought, to be sure. But also… undeniably powerful. Zuckerberg promises a “big year” for this endeavor. One can only hope that this superintelligence is… benevolent. Or at least, not overly fond of bureaucracy.

5. The Forge of Meta Compute

The creation of artificial intelligence requires… infrastructure. A vast, humming network of processors and energy sources. Meta has established a new division, “Meta Compute,” to invest in this crucial area. They are building a forge, of sorts, to create the tools needed for their algorithmic ambitions. And, remarkably, they are designing their systems to support any type of chip. Their “Andromeda” engine can run on Nvidia, AMD, or even their own internally developed accelerators. A wise move, to avoid becoming overly reliant on the whims of others. It is as if they are preparing for a… digital siege.

6. The B2B Automatons

The agentic AI is not merely increasing Meta’s internal productivity; it is also generating revenue. Their business AIs, deployed on WhatsApp, now support over a million weekly conversations between customers and businesses in Mexico and the Philippines. A small number, perhaps, but a promising start. They plan to expand this service to additional markets, and to further enhance the capabilities of these algorithmic emissaries. One can almost hear the cash registers… clicking.

7. The Bleeding of Reality Labs

Reality Labs, Meta’s division focused on augmented and virtual reality, continues to lose money. A considerable sum, in fact—$6 billion in the last quarter alone. Investors have grumbled, naturally. But Meta assures us that the situation will improve. They are now focusing their investments on AI glasses and wearables. A sensible move, perhaps. One suspects that these investments will eventually deliver… something. Or at least, they will distract us from the ongoing losses. It is a curious thing, this human desire for… illusions.

So, there you have it. Seven peculiarities, seven reasons to consider Meta Platforms as a worthy estate in this, the year of our Lord 2026. Whether it is the most promising of all… well, that remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: it is a most curious place, this digital world. And it is growing stranger by the day.

2026-01-31 11:53