Mark Zuckerberg is steering Facebook’s focus away from the Metaverse and into artificial intelligence (AI), which comes with a substantial cost. In a detailed Instagram post, Zuckerberg outlined Meta’s future plans, including investing in a massive compute infrastructure with 350,000 pricey Nvidia AI chips, potentially costing over $10.5 billion. Beyond popular AI applications like ChatGPT, Zuckerberg aims to use these chips for artificial general intelligence (AGI), a concept of achieving human-level intelligence in AI. This move could position Meta as a leader in AI, surpassing even OpenAI. Despite this shift, Zuckerberg hasn’t abandoned the Metaverse entirely and plans to introduce AI-enhanced virtual reality glasses. After facing significant losses in the Metaverse, the CEO is now making bold moves in the AI space, with investors hoping for a more successful outcome.
Mark Zuckerberg, the mind behind Facebook, has shifted gears from the grand vision of the Metaverse, opting for a new focus on artificial intelligence — and it comes with a hefty price tag.
Zuckerberg recently shared the social media giant’s “future roadmap” on Instagram (also owned by Meta), outlining plans to expand their “massive compute infrastructure” by incorporating a staggering 350,000 of Nvidia’s high-priced AI chips.
While OpenAI and Microsoft have taken the spotlight in the AI revolution, it’s crucial to acknowledge Nvidia’s premium chips, such as the Nvidia H100, powering large language models like ChatGPT. With a single H100 chip priced at around $30,000, Meta might be looking at a whopping $10.5 billion expense for acquiring hundreds of thousands of these chips.
But the spending spree doesn’t end there. In addition to the 350,000 Nvidia H100s, Zuckerberg expressed intentions to acquire “almost 600k H100 equivalents.” The total cost of this endeavor remains uncertain but is expected to run into the billions of dollars.
Moving beyond specific applications like ChatGPT, Zuckerberg envisions utilizing these chips to drive his pursuit of artificial general intelligence (AGI). AGI, often discussed by Silicon Valley elites, represents the theoretical point at which AI attains human-level intelligence. While skepticism exists among experts about the feasibility of current AI reaching such a milestone, achieving AGI would position Meta as a dominant force in the AI landscape, potentially surpassing OpenAI.
In a video and accompanying caption, Zuckerberg articulated his “long-term vision to build general intelligence, open source it responsibly, and make it widely available for everyone’s benefit.” This vision diverges from OpenAI’s AGI plans, which prioritize benefiting humanity without explicitly mentioning open sourcing.
Despite the pivot to AI, Zuckerberg hasn’t completely abandoned the Metaverse. He disclosed plans to launch AI-enhanced virtual reality glasses, emphasizing that “glasses are the ideal form factor for letting an AI see what you see.”
After losing $46.5 billion on the Metaverse and pivoting to AI when it became clear that the concept wasn’t gaining traction, Zuckerberg is gearing up for significant moves in the upcoming year. Yet, he seems fixated on making metaverse glasses a reality. Meta investors are likely hoping for a more successful venture this time around.
In conclusion, Mark Zuckerberg’s strategic pivot from the Metaverse to artificial intelligence reveals a substantial investment in pricey Nvidia AI chips for Meta’s ambitious plans. While focusing on applications like ChatGPT, Zuckerberg’s vision extends to artificial general intelligence (AGI), potentially propelling Meta ahead in the AI landscape. The move doesn’t signal a complete departure from the Metaverse, as AI-enhanced virtual reality glasses are still on the horizon. With a history of setbacks in the Metaverse, Zuckerberg’s determined push into AI raises expectations and hopes among investors for a more prosperous venture in the coming year.
