Meta Is Betting $135 Billion on AI as Zuckerberg Says 2026 Will Transform How We Work

Meta Platforms, the company behind Instagram and Facebook, is preparing to dramatically increase its spending on artificial intelligence, signaling one of the boldest technology investments the industry has seen so far.

During a recent earnings call reviewing Meta’s 2025 financial performance, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the company expects to invest up to $135 billion in 2026, with most of that money going toward AI-related infrastructure. The figure represents a sharp rise compared to the $72 billion Meta spent last year, highlighting how central artificial intelligence has become to the company’s future.

Zuckerberg believes the coming year will mark a fundamental shift in how people and organizations operate.

“I expect 2026 to be the year that AI dramatically changes the way we work,” he told analysts.

Meta’s AI Spending Is Accelerating Rapidly

Meta has already spent around $140 billion over the past three years on artificial intelligence, data centers, and advanced computing systems. The new spending plan would push the company even further ahead in the global AI race.

According to Meta, the majority of the investment will support:

• Large-scale AI data centers
• Advanced computing infrastructure
• AI models and autonomous agents
• Internal AI tools used by employees 

The company is not treating AI as an experimental project. Instead, it is becoming the foundation of nearly every major product and business decision at Meta.

Rising Costs Put Pressure on Profits

Meta’s aggressive investment comes with short-term financial consequences. The company reported that expenses increased faster than revenue during the final quarter of 2025, reducing profit margins.

Despite that pressure, investors responded positively to the announcement. Meta shares rose by about 6.5 percent in extended trading in New York, suggesting confidence that AI spending will generate long-term growth even if profitability takes a temporary hit.

This reaction reflects a broader market trend where investors continue to reward companies that move quickly and decisively in artificial intelligence.

AI Is Already Changing How Work Gets Done

Zuckerberg’s comments also pointed to significant changes in the workforce. He said projects that once required large teams can now be handled by a single highly skilled employee using AI tools.

This shift is already visible inside Meta. Earlier this year, the company laid off several hundred employees, primarily within its Reality Labs division. That unit focuses on metaverse development, hardware products, and advanced AI initiatives.

Zuckerberg explained that Meta is investing heavily in AI tools that help engineers and other employees complete more work in less time. As those tools become more effective, productivity gaps between workers are growing.

“There is a big difference between the people who use these tools well and those who do not,” he said.

AI Agents Are Reshaping Organizations

Zuckerberg also highlighted the growing role of AI agents, which are systems capable of performing tasks with limited human supervision.

While he acknowledged that it is difficult to predict exactly how companies will be structured in the future, he said the impact of these tools is already profound. AI agents are beginning to handle workflows that once required coordination across multiple teams.

This shift could lead to:

• Smaller teams with higher output
• Faster product development
• Increased reliance on automation
• Fewer traditional job roles

For many companies, adapting to this new reality may become essential to staying competitive.

Industry Leaders Warn of an AI Bubble

Not everyone shares Meta’s optimism.

Several prominent executives have warned that the rapid pace of AI investment could be creating a bubble similar to the dotcom boom of the late 1990s.

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins has said AI could eventually become larger than the internet, but he also warned that many companies may not survive the current hype cycle. JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon has expressed similar concerns.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has acknowledged signs of irrational behavior in parts of the AI market, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has said investors may be overexcited about AI’s near-term potential.

Despite these warnings, Meta appears determined to continue investing at scale.

Why Meta Is Going All In on AI

For Meta, artificial intelligence is not just a growth opportunity. It is central to the company’s survival and evolution.

AI already powers:

• Advertising performance and targeting
• Content recommendations on Instagram and Facebook
• Messaging automation
• Virtual and augmented reality experiences

By expanding its AI infrastructure now, Meta is betting that scale, speed, and early adoption will provide a lasting competitive advantage.

If 2026 truly becomes a turning point for how work is done, Meta wants to be leading that change rather than reacting to it.

What This Means for the Future of Work

Meta’s massive AI investment highlights a broader shift underway across the technology sector. Artificial intelligence is moving beyond support tools and into roles that reshape entire workflows.

For workers, this could mean higher productivity and new opportunities, but also increased pressure to adapt. For companies, it signals that standing still is no longer an option.

Whether this period results in sustained innovation or a painful correction remains uncertain. What is clear is that Meta is willing to spend whatever it takes to secure its place in an AI-driven future.