Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has unveiled an unprecedented commitment to artificial intelligence infrastructure, announcing plans to nearly double the company’s AI spending to $135 billion in 2026. The declaration came during Wednesday’s earnings call discussing Meta’s 2025 financial performance, marking one of the largest corporate investments in AI technology to date.
The substantial expenditure represents a dramatic increase from the $72 billion allocated to AI projects in 2025 and follows three years of cumulative $140 billion investments positioning Meta at the forefront of the AI revolution. Zuckerberg characterized 2026 as the pivotal year when “AI dramatically changes the way we work,” despite acknowledging compressed profit margins as expenses outpace revenues.
Market response appeared positive initially, with Meta shares climbing approximately 6.5% in extended trading following the announcement. However, the ambitious spending plan arrives alongside subtle indications of potential workforce reductions. Zuckerberg noted that AI tools now enable “projects that used to take big teams [to] be accomplished by a single, very talented person,” suggesting significant organizational restructuring ahead.
The technology giant has already implemented several hundred layoffs in its Reality Labs division this year, reflecting strategic reallocation toward AI initiatives. Zuckerberg emphasized investments in AI tools that enhance employee productivity, particularly for software engineers, while acknowledging a growing performance gap between those effectively leveraging AI capabilities and those struggling to adapt.
This massive financial commitment emerges against a backdrop of industry skepticism regarding AI valuation. Cisco Systems CEO Chuck Robbins characterized the current market as probable bubble conditions, warning that some companies “won’t make it.” Similar concerns have been echoed by JPMorgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, who noted “irrationality” in the AI boom. Even OpenAI’s Sam Altman acknowledged investor “overexcitement” about AI technology.
Meta’s aggressive investment strategy signals both confidence in AI’s transformative potential and willingness to weather potential market corrections in pursuit of technological leadership.