Meta to Bring First 1GW+ AI Supercluster Online by 2026 Amid "Hundreds of Billions" Investment

Menlo Park, California – Meta Platforms is poised to launch its first artificial intelligence (AI) supercluster exceeding one gigawatt (GW) of compute power by 2026, signaling an unprecedented commitment to the AI race. This development is part of a broader strategy by the tech giant to invest "hundreds of billions of dollars" into advanced AI infrastructure, as confirmed by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The ambitious undertaking, which includes projects like Prometheus and Hyperion, aims to establish Meta as a leader in the pursuit of superintelligence.

The news was underscored by a cryptic yet triumphant social media post from semiconductor analysis firm SemiAnalysis, stating, > "Don’t let your memes be dreams kids. Look where they can take you." This tweet appears to allude to the realization of Meta's massive AI ambitions, a significant milestone in the industry.

Prometheus, Meta's inaugural supercluster, is slated to come online in 2026 and is located in New Albany, Ohio. This facility alone is expected to surpass 1 GW of computational capacity, making Meta one of the first companies to operate an AI data center of such immense scale. Following Prometheus, Meta plans to roll out Hyperion, a larger project in Richland Parish, Louisiana, designed to eventually scale up to five gigawatts over several years.

These multi-gigawatt clusters are central to Meta's newly formed Superintelligence Labs, which Zuckerberg aims to staff with the "most elite and talent-dense team in the industry." The company's aggressive investment in compute power and top AI talent reflects a strategic pivot, particularly after the lukewarm reception of its Llama 4 AI models, as it seeks to outcompete rivals like OpenAI and Google.

The scale of these projects presents significant power demands, with the combined energy needs of Prometheus and Hyperion potentially rivaling that of major cities. Meta is exploring various power solutions, including on-site natural gas generation and partnerships for renewable energy, to support its infrastructure. This massive build-out positions Meta to accelerate the training and deployment of its next-generation AI models, further intensifying the global competition for AI supremacy.