Meta Ramps Up AI Spending to $145B Amid Mixed Investor Reaction

Zuckerberg’s "Year of AI" continues with a massive capital expenditure hike, even as Meta faces legal headwinds and announces further layoffs to reshape its workforce.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 5:05 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Financial Performance: Ad Engine Continues to Purr

While the spending forecast caused jitters, Meta's core business remains exceptionally robust:

Quarterly Revenue: Reported $56.31 billion, surpassing the average analyst estimate of $55.45 billion.

User Growth: Family Daily Active People (DAP) rose 4% to 3.56 billion unique users across Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Threads.

Ad Market Dominance: In a historic shift, Meta is projected to overtake Alphabet this year as the world's largest online advertiser, with expected net ad revenue of $243.46 billion.

The Cost of Innovation: Layoffs and AI "Muse"