Meta has been aggressively investing in AI, from poaching top engineers to acquiring startups and planning data centers as vast as Manhattan. According to CEO Mark Zuckerberg, these efforts are beginning to bear fruit, revealing early signs of self-improving AI systems.
In a memo ahead of Meta’s Q2 earnings, Zuckerberg said developing “superintelligence” is now within reach, though it comes with “novel safety concerns.” While rival companies aim to use advanced AI mainly for productivity and automation, Zuckerberg envisions “personal superintelligence” for every individual. He warned that the remainder of this decade will be pivotal in deciding whether the technology empowers people or replaces jobs on a massive scale.
The market responded positively. Meta’s Q2 2025 earnings hit $7.14 per share on $47.52 billion in revenue, beating Wall Street estimates and sending shares soaring by 10%. Advertising revenue climbed to $46.6 billion from $38.3 billion a year earlier. Meta projects Q3 revenue between $47.5 billion and $50.5 billion.
However, its AI ambitions come with massive costs. Total Q2 expenses reached $27.07 billion, a 12% rise year-over-year, while capital expenditures hit $17.01 billion. The company now forecasts total 2025 expenses between $114 billion and $118 billion, with $66–72 billion earmarked for infrastructure. Spending is expected to increase further in 2026, driven largely by datacenter growth and talent acquisition.
Meta’s hiring strategy has been aggressive, offering lavish packages some exceeding $200 million to lure AI experts from Apple, GitHub, and startups. The company also invested $14.3 billion for a 49% stake in Scale AI, appointing its CEO as chief AI officer.
While its Reality Labs unit remains a small revenue source, Zuckerberg believes AI-enabled glasses will become essential, likening their absence to a cognitive handicap. Despite WhatsApp ads not being a major contributor to ad revenue yet, Meta’s advertising engine continues to fuel growth, reinforcing investor confidence in its high-stakes AI bet.
