New Delhi: Mark Zuckerberg is placing artificial intelligence at the centre of Meta’s future, as the company increases spending on advanced AI models, data centres and computing infrastructure.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has already used AI for years. Its recommendation systems decide which videos, posts and advertisements users see. However, the company is now investing far more heavily in generative AI and advanced systems that could perform complex tasks, assist users and improve business operations.
Meta has raised its expected capital expenditure for 2026 to between $130 billion and $145 billion. The money is expected to support data centres, computer chips and other infrastructure required to train and operate powerful AI systems.
The scale of spending shows how intense the global AI competition has become. Companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon and OpenAI are also investing heavily in AI models and computing capacity. Major technology companies have collectively committed enormous amounts of money to data centres and advanced hardware since the AI boom began.
Zuckerberg has spoken about building highly advanced AI that could assist people in their daily lives. Meta’s long-term vision includes personal AI assistants that may help users create content, communicate, learn new skills and manage tasks.
The company is also developing AI tools for businesses. For example, AI agents could answer customer questions, support online shopping and help small companies communicate with customers through WhatsApp and other Meta platforms.
Meta’s existing advertising business may benefit from AI as well. Better AI systems can improve ad targeting, help businesses create marketing content and increase user engagement. This gives Meta an advantage because it already has billions of users across its platforms.
However, the company’s AI strategy is creating concerns among investors. Meta’s heavy spending has put pressure on cash flow, while analysts are asking when these investments will generate major new revenue. The company’s free cash flow fell sharply during the second quarter as infrastructure spending increased.
There are also concerns about employment. Meta has reduced thousands of jobs while increasing investment in AI infrastructure. Zuckerberg has argued that AI development is creating employment in areas such as construction and data-centre development, but critics say the benefits may not be equally distributed.
