Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, announced plans to invest "hundreds of billions" in developing multiple large-scale AI data centers. These include the "Prometheus" cluster, set to launch in 2026, and the "Hyperion" cluster, which aims to expand to a 5-gigawatt capacity within a few years. For context, the largest U.S. nuclear power plant has a capacity of about 4.5 gigawatts. Zuckerberg emphasized that Meta's computing power will surpass other institutions, aiming to attract top researchers.
In efforts to strengthen its AI capabilities, Zuckerberg restructured Meta's AI department, establishing a new "superintelligence lab" and offering lucrative compensation packages to attract talent from competitors like Apple and OpenAI. The department is led by former Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang and former GitHub head Nat Friedman. Meta also invested $14.3 billion in Scale for a 49% stake.
Despite Meta's financial power, its capital expenditure projections for 2025 are similar to those of Microsoft and Google. Following the announcement, Meta's stock (META, Financial) rose by about 1%, with a year-to-date increase of over 24%.
As tech giants build gigawatt-level data centers, concerns about water and electricity usage grow. Meta's Georgia data center consumes significant water resources, affecting local supplies. Similar issues are reported in Texas, Arizona, and Louisiana, with increased energy demands influencing U.S. energy policy.
