In Q1, Meta’s earnings report revealed that the company had underestimated its capital expenditures by at least $5 billion. The increase in costs was attributed to the company’s aggressive investments in AI, as well as higher infrastructure and legal expenses.
Meta is now revising its estimated capital expenses upwards and expects the increase to continue as it invests heavily in AI research and product development efforts. The expenses are now expected to be between $35 and $40 billion, up from the original estimate of $30 to $37 billion.
Additionally, Meta’s projected total expenses for full-year 2024 will be at least $2 billion higher than expected. The company now anticipates total expenses in the range of $96-99 billion, up from the previous forecast of $94-99 billion, due to increased infrastructure and legal costs. The rise in expenses is not limited to AI and is also influenced by product development and ongoing legal issues.
Market analysts, such as Max Willens from Emarketer, noted that it is understandable for Meta to adjust its guidance given the scale of its investments in AI. Companies investing heavily in emerging technologies may experience increased costs in the short term. However, they also expect these investments to pay off with significant growth opportunities in the long run.
