Meta Platforms Reports 21% Revenue Growth, 4 Million AI Advertisers

Meta Platforms has recently reported a 21% year-over-year revenue increase to $48.39 billion in Q4, surpassing expectations, with key growth driven by advertising that utilizes generative AI tools. CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed optimism about AI’s future, predicting that Meta's AI assistants could reach over a billion users, which contributed to a 4.5% rise in stock value post-earnings report. The company is also investing significantly in AI infrastructure, with plans for enhanced ad targeting and content ranking to improve user engagement. Despite some concerns over a return to less rigorous fact-checking practices, advertising demand has remained strong. Elon Musk has publicly challenged the funding and viability of the Stargate initiative, a $500 billion AI project announced by former President Trump, which has led to a public dispute with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Musk's skepticism contrasts with Altman's assurances that funding is secure and construction on data centers is already underway.