New York, January 21, 2026, 16:41 EST — After-hours
Meta Platforms shares climbed 1.5% to $612.96 in after-hours trading Wednesday, driven by renewed focus on its AI efforts. At the World Economic Forum in Davos, CTO Andrew Bosworth revealed that Meta Superintelligence Labs rolled out its first major AI models internally this month, calling them “very good.” The company is clearly racing to keep up with rivals like Alphabet’s Google. Bosworth acknowledged there’s still “work to do post-training” before the tech can be widely released. He also highlighted the AI-powered Ray-Ban Display glasses, whose international launch was paused this month to prioritize U.S. demand. 1
The remarks come at a tricky time for Meta. Investors are demanding clearer returns from Big Tech’s hefty investments in chips, data centers, and power. Meta’s stock has been moving in step with that ongoing debate.
Meta now faces a significant legal challenge. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission announced it will appeal a judge’s dismissal of its antitrust case targeting Meta’s Instagram and WhatsApp deals. An FTC spokesperson insisted, “our position has not changed.” Meanwhile, Meta’s Andy Stone defended the ruling, saying it confirms the “fierce competition we face,” citing competitors like TikTok. 2
In Europe, Britain’s Gambling Commission has accused Meta of “turning a blind eye” to illegal online casino ads running on Facebook and Instagram. Meta responded by saying it enforces strict gambling ad policies, removes ads that break the rules once spotted, and is cooperating with the regulator to take down flagged content. 3
The picture is tangled: positive chatter on AI advancements clashes with mounting regulatory pressure. This push-pull fuels short-term volatility, even as the company’s main ad revenue continues to carry the load.
Bosworth’s “post-training” point is crucial since training a model is just the beginning. The subsequent steps — tuning, safety validation, integration, and deployment — usually decide if an AI system makes it to market and whether it can generate revenue.
Investors are pressing Meta for clear answers: what products will launch next, the timeline for rollout, and if fresh tools can boost ad results without sending costs soaring.
There’s a clear downside risk. Should the appeal breathe new life into the FTC’s case and stretch out, the legal cloud could grow heavier, making big investors hesitant despite ongoing AI breakthroughs.
Traders will keep an eye on how regulators tackle platform accountability for ads and content — a recurring issue that can quickly flare up in Meta’s key markets.
Meta is set to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results after the market closes on January 28. The company will hold a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET. Investors are eager for updates on AI spending, product launches, and how quickly those AI models are generating revenue. 4
