$2 billion for an AI agent

Today we’re going to see two tech giants make moves that say a lot about where AI is headed next. One just spent billions on a startup barely out of beta. Meta is chasing profitable AI products, not just infrastructure. The other bought its way upstream into the grid. Google? It’s realizing chips mean nothing without electricity. Both are betting big, but in very different ways and both hint at a new phase of AI; one where scale alone won’t be enough.

In today’s post:

• Zuckerberg just bought the most viral AI startup of 2025

• AI spending is booming, but cracks are starting to show

• Google just spent $4.75B on power not servers

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What’s Trending Today

PROFITS

Meta’s $2B AI bet isn’t just about tech

Meta just acquired Manus, the Singapore-based AI phenom that exploded onto the scene eight months ago. The price? $2 billion. For a product still in early testing.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• Manus went viral this spring with an AI demo showing agents that could plan vacations, screen job applicants, and analyze stock portfolios.

• Investors rushed in: Benchmark led a $75M round within weeks; Tencent and HSG had already backed it.

• Despite charging $39 to $199/month during testing, Manus claimed millions of users and $100M+ in ARR.

• Meta’s play here is clear, it wants profitable AI products to justify its $60B infrastructure spend.

• But there's a geopolitical twist: Manus has Chinese founders and early Chinese investors, which has already drawn attention from U.S. lawmakers.

• Meta says all Chinese ties will be severed and Manus will no longer operate in China post-acquisition.

• Manus will stay independent but integrate into Meta’s platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

This isn’t just about acquiring great tech, it’s a credibility play. Meta needs real AI wins, not just infrastructure or moonshots. Buying Manus gives it a working product, revenue, and momentum. The geopolitical subplot just adds pressure. If you’re building in AI, this deal is a reminder: performance and profit still talk loudest.

RESEARCH

Is AI in a gold rush or a bubble?

In 2025, AI was the story. Trillions were poured into data centers, chips, and startups. But not everyone’s convinced it’ll pay off.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• Nvidia led the charge, raking in $32B up 65% from last year while AI buildouts rivaled Cold War-era megaprojects.

• Analysts now wonder: is this a new industrial revolution, or just another bubble?

• Data center debt is rising fast especially among smaller players and not all will survive the repayment timeline.

• AI firms are often reinvesting directly into their cloud backers, creating a feedback loop that may mask true demand.

• Misinformation and quality issues persist, with AI still prone to fundamental errors, especially in sensitive areas like health and law.

• Despite risks, the potential is real AI is already accelerating drug discovery and transforming diagnostics.

• Regulation still lags behind, leaving both markets and the public exposed to fast-moving, high-stakes tech shifts.

This feels like a dot-com moment. Some of these bets will turn into the next Google. Others won’t make it to 2027. The difference won’t come down to hype, it’ll come down to fundamentals: cost, performance, trust, and real-world utility. If you’re building in this space, don’t just ride the wave. Build something that lasts after it crashes

STRATEGY

Google’s new AI bottleneck: electricity

Alphabet just acquired Intersect, a power and data center developer, for $4.75 billion in cash and assumed debt. The reason? AI isn’t just straining compute, it’s straining the grid.

Here’s everything you need to know:

• Intersect will stay independent but work directly with Google’s infrastructure team to build AI-ready power and data hubs.

• The deal reflects a new truth: scaling AI means scaling electricity, not just GPUs.

• Intersect already has gigawatts of energy and data capacity in development, and a co-located Texas site with Google underway.

• Some assets especially in Texas and California aren’t part of the acquisition and will remain with a separate company.

• Google says Intersect will focus on next-gen energy solutions, like geothermal, long-duration storage, and carbon-captured gas.

• CEO Sundar Pichai emphasized the goal is to add capacity without raising costs for the public grid.

• But critics note that AI demand is already reshaping U.S. power markets and not always in equitable ways.

This is Google trying to solve a physics problem with a financial one. Buying Intersect won’t magically ease grid congestion or local resistance, but it gives Google a head start. In 2026, the tech companies that lead in AI won’t just be the ones with the fastest chips they’ll be the ones with the cleanest, most scalable power.

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