Meta buys AI coding startup Conductor as big tech races to lock in developers
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Meta has acquired Conductor, an AI coding startup that enables developers to manage multiple AI coding agents simultaneously. This move aims to strengthen Meta's ecosystem of developer tools amid intense competition from other major tech firms. The acquisition reflects a broader industry trend where companies purchase startups building tooling around interchangeable AI models to lock in users. Anthropic serves as a prime example of this strategy, with its Claude Code product generating significant revenue and the company previously acquiring Stainless. Other competitors have also made substantial moves, including OpenAI's planned acquisition of Pierre Computer and SpaceX's $60 billion purchase of Cursor. Software development remains one of the most successful applications for AI, further driving these strategic investments. As part of the deal, Conductor Cloud will shut down on November 20, and its desktop app will cease receiving new models in early 2027.
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