Meta Commits Hundreds of Billions to AI Infrastructure, Targeting 5-Gigawatt Supercluster

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, announced substantial long-term investments into artificial intelligence compute infrastructure, aiming to build several multi-gigawatt data centers to achieve "superintelligence." The ambitious plan includes the launch of "Prometheus" in 2026, with "Hyperion" projected to scale up to an immense 5 gigawatts over several years. This strategic pivot underscores Meta's intent to lead the global AI race.

The investment, described by Zuckerberg as "hundreds of billions of dollars," will fund the construction of massive compute clusters, with some facilities covering an area comparable to a significant portion of Manhattan. Meta aims to be the first lab to bring a gigawatt-plus supercluster online, positioning itself at the forefront of large-scale AI development. Prometheus is slated for New Albany, Ohio, while Hyperion will be located in Louisiana, expected to be fully operational by 2030.

This aggressive push is part of Meta's broader strategy to establish dominance in AI, following the formation of its Superintelligence Labs division. The company has actively recruited top AI talent from rivals like OpenAI and Google, with significant investments including $14.3 billion in Scale AI and the acquisition of Play.AI. This talent acquisition drive is crucial for developing advanced AI models capable of outperforming human cognitive abilities.

Meta's robust advertising business, which generated over $160 billion in revenue in 2024, provides the capital for these monumental expenditures. Zuckerberg affirmed, "We have the capital from our business to do this." The company anticipates new revenue streams from its Meta AI app, image-to-video advertising tools, and smart glasses, fueled by these AI advancements. Following the announcement, Meta shares saw a 1% increase, contributing to a more than 20% rise year-to-date.

However, the immense scale of these AI-driven data centers raises significant environmental considerations due to their high energy and water consumption. While Meta has committed to being "water positive by 2030," the industry's overall water usage is projected to reach 1.7 trillion gallons globally by 2027. The company's investment signals a fierce competitive landscape, as rivals like Microsoft and Amazon are also pouring tens of billions into their AI infrastructure.