Despite the recent panic in U.S. markets over speculation that DeepSeek's AI models would crush demand for graphics processing units (GPUs), Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reaffirmed the tech giant's commitment to investing heavily in artificial intelligence (AI). During Meta's first-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, Zuckerberg pledged to spend "hundreds of billions of dollars" on AI infrastructure over the long term.

The news comes on the heels of a tumultuous Monday, which saw Nvidia's stock drop almost 20% amid concerns that DeepSeek's AI models would reduce the need for GPUs. However, Zuckerberg remains undeterred, citing the strategic advantage of investing heavily in AI infrastructure. "At this point, I would bet that the ability to build out that kind of infrastructure is going to be a major advantage for both the quality of the service and being able to serve the scale that we want to," he said.

Zuckerberg's comments are particularly noteworthy given Meta's already-substantial investments in AI. Last week, the CEO announced plans to spend over $60 billion in 2025 alone on capital expenditures, primarily focused on data centers. This significant outlay underscores Meta's ambition to establish itself as a leader in the AI space, despite the emergence of new competitors like DeepSeek.

In response to an analyst's question about DeepSeek's impact on Meta's AI spending, Zuckerberg acknowledged that the company views DeepSeek as a new competitor, but emphasized that it's "way too early" to tell if demand for chips will stop increasing. He noted that Meta's massive user base – numbering in the billions – will continue to drive demand for inference purposes, ensuring that GPUs remain crucial to the company's operations.

Zuckerberg also shared insights into Meta's next-generation AI model, Llama 4, which is being designed to surpass the capabilities of closed models like ChatGPT. The CEO revealed that Llama 4 will boast agentic capabilities, similar to those developed by OpenAI and Anthropic, as well as multimodal capabilities. "Our goal with Llama 3 was to make open source competitive with closed models," he said. "And our goal for Llama 4 is to lead."

The implications of Meta's commitment to AI investments are far-reaching, with potential consequences for the entire tech industry. As AI continues to evolve and become increasingly integral to various sectors, companies like Meta will be well-positioned to capitalize on emerging opportunities. Meanwhile, the fate of GPU manufacturers like Nvidia hangs in the balance, as the industry waits to see how the rise of AI will impact demand for their products.

In conclusion, Meta's unwavering dedication to AI investments serves as a testament to the company's vision for a future where AI is deeply ingrained in various aspects of life. As the tech landscape continues to shift, one thing is clear: AI will play an increasingly prominent role, and companies like Meta will be at the forefront of this revolution.