Meta, the tech giant founded by Mark Zuckerberg, has announced ambitious plans to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in constructing vast AI data centers across the United States. This endeavor, aimed at revolutionizing their AI capabilities, is set to include the creation of the first multi-gigawatt data center named “Prometheus,” which is anticipated to become operational in 2026. Zuckerberg highlighted that one of the proposed sites would span an area comparable to Manhattan, covering approximately 59.1 square kilometers or 22.8 square miles.
Since its inception, Meta has heavily invested in advancing what it refers to as “superintelligence”—the vision of technology surpassing human cognitive capabilities. Historically, the company has built its financial success predominantly on online advertising, approving over $160 billion in revenue in 2024 alone.
In a recent post on the social media platform Threads, Zuckerberg elaborated on the company’s plans to construct multiple multi-gigawatt clusters. He made mention of a cluster named “Hyperion,” which could expand its capacity up to five gigawatts within a few years. In his statements, he remarked that the scale of these developments would cover significant areas, akin to that of Manhattan’s footprint.
Locations for these data centers have already been designated, with Prometheus slated for New Albany, Ohio, while Hyperion is pointed to be established in Louisiana, aimed to be fully functional by 2030. Zuckerberg articulated that these strategic investments, totaling in the hundreds of billions of dollars, would be crucial for developing superintelligent systems, and emphasized the significance of the names assigned to these centers as reflective of their ambitious scope and impact.
Analyzing Meta’s strategic direction, Karl Freund, a principal analyst at Cambrian AI Research, remarked to BBC News that Zuckerberg seems determined to invest heavily to establish Meta at the forefront of the AI landscape. Freund further pointed out that the talent that Zuckerberg aims to attract would have the opportunity to work with some of the most advanced AI hardware available worldwide.
Following this announcement, Meta’s stock saw a slight increase, trading 1% higher, with shares rising more than 20% during the year thus far, according to Reuters. This reflects strong investor optimism as the company pivots towards a greater emphasis on AI-driven technologies.
Currently, there are approximately 10,000 data centers globally, most of which are concentrated in the U.S., with the UK and Germany following. These data centers are crucial as they host the cloud infrastructure, which comprises remote servers that hold digital information. However, the energy and water demands associated with AI-driven data centers are significant. Studies indicate that these facilities could potentially consume around 1.7 trillion gallons of water worldwide by 2027. For reference, just a single AI query, such as those made to ChatGPT, can require about the same amount of water as a small plastic bottle.
In summary, Meta’s decision to pour extensive resources into the construction of AI data centers is indicative of the growing trend among tech giants to prioritize and capitalize on the future of artificial intelligence. As the company seeks to create groundbreaking technological advancements, its financial investment and strategic planning may well redefine the AI landscape, significantly impacting both the industry and users alike.
