Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, is preparing to dramatically ramp up its spending on artificial intelligence, signalling just how central AI has become to its future plans.
The tech giant said it expects to invest up to £97bn in AI during 2026, almost double what it spent the previous year. Most of the money will go into building data centres, expanding computing power and developing more advanced AI systems. Chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has described the coming year as a moment when AI could fundamentally change how people work.
Zuckerberg told investors that AI tools are already transforming productivity inside Meta. Tasks that once required large teams can now be handled by far fewer engineers, supported by increasingly capable AI systems. He said this shift could redefine how work is organised across the business.
The scale of the investment has impressed markets, but it also brings pressure. Meta’s costs are rising quickly, and analysts warn the company will need to show clear returns from its AI spending. Shareholders will be watching closely to see whether new products and efficiency gains justify the outlay.
Meta’s focus on AI marks a wider change in priorities. Ambitions around virtual reality and the metaverse have taken a back seat, with more resources now flowing into artificial intelligence. The company is betting that early and aggressive investment will give it an edge as AI becomes embedded across digital services.
For businesses and workers, Meta’s strategy highlights a bigger shift under way. If AI delivers on its promise, it could reshape productivity across industries. If it falls short, the cost of that gamble will be hard to ignore.
Author: Kieran Seymour