Meta launches an enterprise AI platform and hires MongoDB's chief executive to run it

[BackpropMonk33]

Meta is moving into business AI in a big way. It has launched the Meta Enterprise Platform, which will offer companies its full AI stack, including the Muse assistant, Meta Business Agent, the Muse API and Muse Code. The idea is to help organisations automate everyday work like managing email and booking travel. It follows Muse's consumer launch earlier this month, which we discussed when it topped the App Store

To lead it, Meta has hired Chirantan Desai, better known as CJ, who was chief executive of database company MongoDB. His departure hit MongoDB hard, with its shares dropping around 17 percent on the news, and co-founder Dev Ittycheria stepping back in as interim chief executive. Desai said AI will fundamentally redefine how organisations innovate, grow, serve customers and run their operations

No pricing has been announced yet, which is the key detail businesses will want. Meta is also a relative newcomer to selling software to companies. Microsoft, Google, Salesforce, OpenAI and Anthropic all have a head start in the enterprise market, and many of them already have long relationships with corporate IT departments

The motivation is fairly clear. Meta has been spending huge sums on AI infrastructure, and investors want to see that spending turn into revenue beyond advertising. Selling AI to businesses is one of the most obvious ways to do that. It also puts Meta in direct competition with OpenAI, which unveiled its own workplace tools at DevDay this week

The big question is trust. Plenty of companies are nervous about handing their data to Meta given its history with privacy. Would your workplace use a Meta AI platform? And is hiring a big name chief executive enough to break into enterprise software?

Meta launches enterprise AI platform, hires MongoDB CEO to lead new initiative | TechCrunchtechcrunch.com

[StoneCold]

No pricing is a big omission. Businesses budget a year ahead, and nobody signs up without knowing the cost. Expect details soon. Enterprise buyers also want long term price guarantees

[Gold Wolf]

Enterprise AI is getting crowded fast. Microsoft has Copilot bundled with Office, Google has Gemini in Workspace, and OpenAI just launched ChatGPT Space

Meta needs something none of them offer. Cheaper pricing might be its best weapon, given how much money it has

[BinaryMonk78]

MongoDB shares falling 17 percent because one person left tells you how highly the market rated Desai. Meta has landed a serious operator. Enterprise software is all about sales and relationships, and he has plenty of both

[RayOfLight99]

Interesting that it calls the business product Muse too. Blurring consumer and enterprise branding can confuse buyers. Microsoft struggled with that for years with Copilot. Clear naming helps procurement teams. Meta should split the brands early

[Darren_34]

Meta's open weight Llama heritage could help here. Some companies want models they can run on their own servers rather than sending data to the cloud. If Meta offers that option, it has a real advantage over closed rivals. Security teams would feel much better about it

[CosmicRay91]

Muse doing well with consumers gives Meta a starting point. Employees who use it at home might push for it at work. That bottom up adoption helped Slack and Zoom

Consumer habits often drift into the office. It happened with iPhones too