Meta Plans to Sell $2 Billion Data Assets to Build AI Centers

Post by : Mumtaaz Qadiri

Photo: Reuters

Meta Platforms, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is making a big change in how it builds the huge computer systems needed for artificial intelligence (AI). Meta has shared a new plan to sell some of its data center assets worth $2 billion. These assets are parts of buildings and land that were going to be used for data centers. Instead of building and paying for everything by itself, Meta now wants to work with financial partners to help pay for these projects.

This is a major shift for a company like Meta. In the past, big technology companies usually paid for their own growth. But now, because AI needs much more power and space, the cost of building large data centers has become very high. Meta wants to share some of these costs with others.

Working With Financial Partners

Earlier this week, Meta's Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Susan Li, said that the company is looking for financial partners. These partners will help Meta build new data centers. These centers are needed for Meta’s growing plans to use more AI.

“We’re exploring ways to work with financial partners to co-develop data centers,” Li said during a call with investors. She explained that while Meta will still pay for most of its own costs, some of the projects could get large financial help from outside sources. This will give Meta more flexibility, especially if plans change in the future.

$2 Billion in Assets Ready to Sell

In a new official report, Meta confirmed that it has already taken the first step in this new plan. In June, the company approved the sale of certain assets. These include land and buildings that are still under construction for future data centers.

Meta has reclassified these assets, which are worth $2.04 billion, as “held-for-sale.” This means that the company no longer plans to use them on its own. Instead, these assets are expected to be given to another company or investor within the next 12 months. Together, Meta and this third party will build and manage the data centers.

Meta’s Total Sell-Off Reaches $3.26 Billion

The total value of all assets Meta has marked as “held-for-sale” is $3.26 billion. This number includes the $2.04 billion worth of data center-related land and construction. Meta says it has not lost money on this move because the assets are valued fairly, based on their selling price minus the cost of selling them.

Although Meta did not provide the names of any potential partners or buyers, the announcement shows that the company’s plans to work with others are becoming more serious.

Bigger Plans for the Future

Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has already said the company is planning very big investments in AI. He wants to build “superclusters” – extremely large and powerful data centers that can support advanced AI programs. Zuckerberg said that just one of these superclusters could be as large as a major part of Manhattan.

To make this happen, Meta will need billions of dollars. So, the company has raised the amount of money it plans to spend in 2025. The new spending forecast is now between $66 billion and $72 billion. This is $2 billion higher than the previous forecast.

Using AI to Improve Advertising

Even though Meta is spending a lot more money, it is also making more money, especially from ads. The company said its recent ad sales have been better than expected. One of the reasons is AI.

Meta is using AI to help businesses better target their ads to the right people. This helps ads perform better, which encourages companies to spend more on advertising. This extra income is helping Meta pay for the large costs of building its AI systems.

Why Meta Is Changing Its Funding Strategy

The cost of developing AI is growing very fast. Big tech companies like Meta, Google, and Microsoft are all racing to build stronger and smarter AI tools. But to make these tools work, they need a lot of computing power, energy, and data storage.

Building this kind of infrastructure is very expensive. That’s why Meta now wants to share some of these costs with outside investors. By doing this, Meta can move faster and take on bigger projects without risking too much of its own money.

No Final Deals Yet

Even though Meta has announced its plans, the company has not yet closed any deals with financial partners. CFO Susan Li said there are no finalized agreements to announce at this time. But the fact that the company has already marked assets for sale shows it is serious about this strategy.

Meta also declined to give more details when asked by reporters. However, the official filing with financial regulators shows that the company is moving forward quickly.

A New Way Forward for Big Tech

Meta’s decision to work with outside investors is part of a larger trend in the tech industry. Companies that once paid for all their own growth are now thinking differently. The need for powerful AI systems has changed how they plan their future.

Instead of paying everything up front, they now want to share the cost and the risk. This way, they can keep moving forward with big plans, like AI development, without stretching their own budgets too much.

Meta’s Bold Step Into AI Infrastructure

Meta’s choice to sell $2 billion in data center assets shows how serious the company is about building AI infrastructure. By working with financial partners, Meta hopes to build faster, spend wisely, and prepare for a future where AI plays a central role in everything the company does.

This step also signals a new business model for big tech — one that balances large investments with smart partnerships. As AI continues to grow, more companies may follow Meta’s lead in finding new ways to pay for the future.

Meta AI investment