Meta's $600B Bet: The AI Infrastructure Arms Race Heats Up

Meta just dropped a bombshell: $600 billion earmarked for U.S. AI data center expansion through 2028. That’s not just capex—that’s a statement.

Here’s what’s actually happening:

The Numbers That Matter:

• $600B pumped into domestic AI infrastructure
• 30,000+ skilled jobs already created since 2010
• New spending surge ahead: $116-118B in 2025 (vs. $114B originally projected)
• 2026 capex will accelerate even further as AI demand explodes
• Bonus: $27B co-investment deal with Blue Owl Capital for their mega data center project

What This Really Means: Meta isn’t just building data centers—they’re racing toward “personal superintelligence.” Translation: they’re betting the farm that whoever controls the most powerful AI infrastructure wins the next decade. Classic arms race playbook.

The Catch: Investors are getting nervous. Rising capex = lower near-term profits. That’s why META dipped 1% Friday despite solid Q3 earnings that beat revenue expectations. But here’s the thing: the stock’s still up 2% YoY, and after-hours sentiment stayed bullish. Retail traders are buying the thesis even if Wall Street’s squinting at the bill.

The Bigger Picture: Meta, OpenAI, Google, Microsoft—they’re all in an infrastructure dick-measuring contest. Whoever builds the fastest, cheapest AI data centers wins. This $600B move signals Meta’s done asking permission. They’re going all-in.