Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has announced an ambitious plan to invest between $60 billion and $65 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in 2025. This investment, significantly larger than its $38 billion–$40 billion AI spending in 2024, underscores Meta’s commitment to competing at the highest levels of AI development​

In a recent Facebook post, CEO Mark Zuckerberg called 2025 a “defining year for AI.” He also confirmed the company’s massive data centre expansion, which is designed to support these AI advancements.​

Competing in the AI Race

Meta’s investment is part of an intense race among big tech companies to dominate AI. The announcement follows recent AI-related spending commitments by Microsoft, Amazon, and OpenAI:

• Microsoft has plans to invest $80 billion in AI infrastructure and data centres in 2025.
• Amazon expects its 2025 spending to surpass $75 billion, compared to $50 billion in 2024.

The Future of AI at Meta

Meta’s AI roadmap focuses on several key areas:

1. AI Chatbots & Assistants:  Meta aims to integrate Meta AI across its platforms, ensuring that over one billion users can interact with AI-powered assistants.
2. Llama 4 AI Model: It is designed to push the boundaries of natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning.
3. AI-Powered Code Generation: Meta is hiring AI engineers to write and improve code, contributing to its development efforts.
4. AI-Integrated Hardware: Meta is enhancing its Ray-Ban smart glasses and AI-powered VR/AR technologies.

Meta is constructing a new AI-focused data center with advanced AI chips, high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure, and cloud computing capabilities to support these initiatives.​

Can Meta Dominate the AI Industry?

Meta’s investment strategy demonstrates its long-term commitment to AI leadership but faces tough competition from OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft. While Meta’s open-source AI approach (allowing developers to use Llama models for free) provides a competitive edge, the real test will be how effectively these investments translate into AI products and market dominance.

Instagram continues to innovate its platform with two powerful new features aimed at enhancing the Reels experience. These updates are designed to give creators more control and flexibility, allowing for even more engaging and dynamic content creation.

New Tools for Creators to Explore

Instagram has long been a leader in short-form video content, and with these two additions, the platform is pushing the boundaries even further. These features are tailored to help users elevate their content, making it more personalized and interactive than ever before.

1.    Advanced Audio Controls for Seamless Mixing

One of the standout updates is the introduction of advanced audio controls, which offer creators more precision when it comes to sound. With this new feature, users can fine-tune the audio levels of individual clips within their Reels. This means that background music, voiceovers, and sound effects can be mixed to perfection, giving creators the flexibility to produce high-quality content that suits their style. Whether you’re narrating a story or showcasing a performance, this feature ensures that your sound is just right.

2.    Interactive Stickers for Increased Engagement

Instagram has also rolled out a new interactive sticker for Reels, giving creators a powerful tool to directly engage with their audience. These interactive elements, such as polls, quizzes, and questions, invite viewers to participate and make the experience more immersive. By adding these stickers to Reels, creators can increase audience interaction, build stronger connections with followers, and encourage more active participation in their content.

Why These Features Matter?

These updates come as part of Instagram’s ongoing mission to stay ahead in the ever-evolving social media landscape. The new audio controls and interactive stickers not only offer more creative freedom but also help drive engagement on the platform.

As Reels continues to dominate the short-form video space, these tools empower creators to refine their work and foster deeper connections with their audience. With these features, Instagram reinforces its commitment to providing an engaging, creative environment for users of all kinds.

Whether you’re a content creator, influencer, or business, these updates bring new possibilities to your Reels, allowing for more engaging and professional-quality videos.

In an unexpected turn of events, Donald Trump confirmed that Microsoft is engaged in discussions to acquire the U.S. operations of TikTok, signaling potential changes for the popular social media platform. This comes as the deadline for TikTok’s potential ban looms due to concerns over user data privacy and national security risks. Trump emphasized that numerous companies, including Microsoft, are showing “great interest” in the platform, with bidding wars expected.

The acquisition talks are a continuation of discussions that began in 2020 when Trump first urged ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell its U.S. operations or face a ban. Microsoft had previously expressed interest in buying the platform, but the deal fell through. This time, the stakes are higher, with estimates suggesting the value of the deal could reach up to $50 billion​

Additionally, other high-profile figures like Elon Musk, Oracle’s Larry Ellison, and investor Frank McCourt have also entered the fray, proposing various bids to acquire TikTok. Trump has even suggested that a deal could involve a significant stake for the U.S. government, with up to 50% ownership after a potential IPO​

As these discussions unfold, the fate of TikTok remains uncertain, with a decision expected within the next 30 days. Trump’s move to delay the enforcement of the ban has given ByteDance more time to seek a buyer, while the Chinese government has also signaled a willingness to allow private companies to decide on such sales independently​