Mark Zuckerberg says a Meta cloud computing business 'definitely on the table'

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has indicated that the company may venture into the cloud computing sector if it finds itself with surplus data center capacity. During Meta's recent annual shareholder meeting, he stated, "it's definitely on the table," while responding to inquiries about the potential to rival giants like Amazon and Microsoft in this domain. Zuckerberg reiterated sentiments expressed during last year's earnings call, mentioning that numerous external companies frequently approach Meta, seeking to utilize its computing resources or to access an API service. Notably, among the four major U.S. hyperscalers, Meta stands as the only one without its own cloud infrastructure and services business. In addition to cloud considerations, Meta is heavily investing in artificial intelligence (AI), with capital expenditures for AI-related developments projected to reach between $125 billion and $145 billion by 2026, an increase from earlier estimates of $115 billion to $135 billion. Despite reporting better-than-expected earnings for the first quarter, Meta's stock saw a 7% decline, reflecting investor apprehension about the company's substantial expenditures in AI. Zuckerberg emphasized that while Meta has not yet begun renting out its computing power, it remains a viable option should the company find itself with excess capacity. He noted, "Obviously if we get to a point where we feel that we have overbuilt, then that is an option that we have, and that is partially what gives us confidence in investing in building this out." Furthermore, Zuckerberg shared insights into Meta's ongoing efforts to develop AI-powered personal assistants. He believes that as technology evolves, the demand for these agents will rise, potentially allowing the company to introduce premium subscription models for enhanced compute capabilities. In a significant move, Meta announced it will start testing monthly subscription services for its Meta AI app and website. This marks the company's first attempt to monetize AI features, with subscription prices set at either $7.99 or $19.99 per month, based on specific features. The service will initially launch in Singapore, Guatemala, and Bolivia. Zuckerberg had previously hinted at this development, stating that as Meta AI evolves, the company could offer users the option to pay for increased computational resources.