Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) shares have experienced significant upward movement recently, driven largely by optimism surrounding the launch of the company's new AI product, Muse. According to a report from Benzinga, shares of the social media giant are up over 10% in the past five days.
Tech analyst Dan Ives discussed the company's performance and the potential of its new technology on CNBC’s "The Exchange" on Tuesday. Ives characterized the launch of Muse as a pivotal moment for the company, stating, "I think it’s a game changer." He suggested that the market has historically underestimated Meta and its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, particularly regarding the billions of dollars the company is investing in the sector.
Ives noted that Meta possesses a massive user base of more than 3.5 billion people, which he believes presents significant opportunities for the company in the AI space. He described Muse as a tool designed for the average consumer, intended to help connect with users who are already active on platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The analyst emphasized that this entrepreneurial spirit is necessary for Meta to compete in the current AI landscape.
Regarding the broader AI race, Ives argued that investors should not count companies like Apple or Meta out. He suggested that the true value in the AI sector will increasingly shift from the models themselves to the data companies possess. Ives predicted that trillions of dollars will be spent in the AI space, characterizing the current environment as an "AI arms race" and noting that the industry is "still in the third inning of this AI revolution."
As of the report's publication, Meta stock was trading at $748.44, representing a 1.61% gain. During intraday trading on Wednesday, shares hit a new 52-week high of $763.90. The stock is also up 15% year-to-date in 2026.
