Meta is positioning AI agents as a commerce layer across its massive messaging ecosystem, not simply as conversational assistants.
Meta has acquired Stockholm-based AI startup Stilla.ai as it builds AI agents that help businesses interact and transact with customers across WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. Founded in 2024, Stilla emerged from stealth earlier this year after raising $5 million in pre-seed funding.
Axios reported that the startup’s team and technology will contribute to Meta Business Agent, while Meta also plans to increase its presence in Sweden.
The deal is small compared with the multibillion-dollar AI acquisitions dominating the market, but it signals where Meta expects AI agents to create commercial value.
Messaging apps already connect millions of businesses with consumers. If AI agents can handle product discovery, support, booking, purchasing, and post-sale service inside those conversations, Meta could turn its messaging network into a larger commerce platform.
The acquisition also shows how aggressively Big Tech companies are buying specialized teams rather than building every agent capability internally.
Talent and product expertise in areas such as autonomous workflows, commerce, and conversational interfaces are becoming increasingly valuable assets as companies race to move AI from answering questions to completing transactions.
Source: Axios.
