Meta is stepping up efforts to enter the cloud business using data centres built with large capital outlays, Bloomberg News reported. It is preparing a cloud infrastructure service that sells AI computing power along with access to models, putting it in competition with major providers such as AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. Meta is considering renting computing capacity and offering access to AI models running on its infrastructure.

Meta is increasing spending in the AI infrastructure race even though it does not sell computing services to outside companies. CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced the launch of a new organisation, Meta Compute, and pledged to secure tens of gigawatts of computing power this decade and hundreds of gigawatts longer term. The unit will oversee infrastructure, chip design, power procurement and supply chains. Some see a strategic shift, while others warn of profitability risks. Meta has already spent more than $70 billion and plans further investment exceeding $600 billion over two years.