Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META) is accelerating an expensive AI buildout—expanding its Richland Parish data center to 5 GW, funding massive energy infrastructure and hiring cloud leadership—while monetizing Muse Spark 1.1, navigating legal scrutiny and volatile stock moves ahead of its July earnings update.

Previous Week Recap

  • Meta Expands Richland Data Center: Meta Platforms (META) expanded its Richland Parish AI data center to 5 GW, raising project costs above $50B. Major investors include Blue Owl and BlackRock; ~1,000 jobs expected.
  • Meta Outlines AI Capex Outlook: Meta plans big data‑center buildout for AI model training, reiterates $125–$145B capex outlook and flags updates on AI spending and possible external cloud support in upcoming earnings
  • Muse Spark 1.1 Pricing: Meta Platforms (META) unveiled Muse Spark 1.1, an AI model to be monetized via per-token pay-as-you-go fees. CEO Mark Zuckerberg said pricing is about 25% of Anthropic/OpenAI rates.
  • Meta Funds Hyperion Energy: Meta agreed to fund energy for its Hyperion site: seven gas plants, three grid batteries, more nuclear capacity and power purchases. Meta will cover energy and water infrastructure costs.
  • Meta Stock: Compute Capacity Sell: META shares swung intramonth: rallied after Meta said it will sell excess compute capacity starting July 1, and dipped when it disclosed expansion of its Northeast Louisiana data‑center project.
  • Meta Hires Senior AWS Executive: Meta plans to hire a senior AWS cloud executive to lead and expand its cloud unit, assigning the new hire to oversee Meta’s cloud initiatives.
  • Meta AI Layoff Lawsuit: Lawsuit: 26 current/former Meta employees allege AI tools and internal systems ranked staff for May layoffs of ~8,000, using performance metrics and AI models; plaintiffs seek injunction and audit.
  • Instagram MAUs Mixed Growth: Meta said Instagram MAUs rose 3% YoY globally, U.S. MAUs fell ~1%. Company said engagement gains stem from existing users; Instagram is Meta’s fastest-growing platform outside Threads.
  • Meta To Webcast July Call: Meta Platforms (META) will webcast its July 29, 2026 conference call and post the earnings release, financial tables, slides, replay and transcript on its Investor Relations site.
  • DC Denies Stay, Documents: D.C. appeals panel denied Meta's stay of an order to produce four internal youth-wellbeing documents in a consumer-protection suit; court found probable cause linking counsel to alleged fraud.

This is an AI-generated summary and may contain inaccuracies. Please verify any important information with the original sources.