Meta buys AI coding startup Conductor as big tech races to lock in developers

Meta, Google, and TikTok are suing to block a California law aimed at protecting minors from addictive social media content and requiring the deletion of children's accounts with compulsive-use features, according to the companies.

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal has asked Meta to disclose costs related to a £3.1 billion collective action lawsuit. The class representative claims Meta's £71.5 million disclosure bill could jeopardize the case, according to Gormsen.

Google, Meta, and TikTok sued California to block a law restricting addictive features on youth-focused social media platforms. The companies argue the law violates free speech and Section 230 of the Communications Defense Act. Meta previously settled with US states for $18 billion over privacy concerns.

Meta (META) warns U.S. midterm elections may hinder data-center construction, a key part of its AI expansion. Opposition to data centers contributed to Democratic wins, with Texas governor-elect calling for a pause on new approvals. Needham suggests tighter regulation could benefit established hyperscalers like Meta, Amazon, and Google by slowing supply growth. Investors added value to major hyperscalers post-election, anticipating slower construction.

Meta (META) and Sandisk (SNDK) announced their first-ever stock splits within eight days, aiming to make shares more accessible to retail investors. Meta's split involves a new share class, while Sandisk's is an eight-for-one split. Both companies are linked to AI, adding to market sentiment. Meta's split takes effect January 19, and Sandisk's on November 19.

Meta acquired AI coding startup Conductor, which will shut down its cloud service on November 20, 2026. The Conductor team will join Meta Superintelligence Labs. The local macOS app will continue to work until early 2027 but will stop receiving updates. Meta has not disclosed the acquisition price or future product plans.