Meta Plans Non-Voting Equity Fundraising for AI in 2027

Key Takeaways

1Meta will create a new category of non-voting shares to finance AI

2The start of trading for these shares is expected in 2027

3Muse, Meta's AI agent, reaches 10 million downloads but faces privacy issues

Why it matters : Meta is mobilizing unprecedented financial resources to support its AI strategy while facing challenges related to user data protection.

Meta aims to expand its funding avenues dedicated to artificial intelligence with a new class of non-voting shares, set to be listed in 2027. This initiative accompanies an increase in its investment forecasts and the rollout of Muse, its AI agent, which has recorded millions of downloads but is already facing criticism regarding privacy.

Increased Investments and a Highly Downloaded Muse

Meta plans to spend between $135 billion and $145 billion on investments this year, up from the previous estimate of $130 billion to $145 billion. In September, the company launched its AI agent Muse, an application that can clean up inboxes, book restaurant tables, and plan trips. Muse quickly rose to the top of app rankings after its launch and reached 10 million downloads in the United States this week. Meta also introduced its Muse Wonder model this week.

A New Type of Non-Voting Shares to Fund AI

Meta intends to introduce a new class of non-voting shares to support the funding of its artificial intelligence projects. These shares will also help finance potential acquisitions as well as employee compensation, with negotiations expected to begin in 2027. Meta emphasizes that the amounts needed to maintain its competitiveness and continue evolving around AI are substantial. According to Susan Li, Chief Financial Officer, this new class of shares is designed to broaden the company's financing tools and provide more flexibility to invest in the momentum driven by AI.

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Data Centers, Talent, and AI Models Already in Place

Meta has already invested billions of dollars in artificial intelligence, notably by building and promoting large data centers. The company has recruited top talent, including from other firms like OpenAI, and has developed AI models designed to compete with those of other major tech players.

Privacy: A Report of a Leaked Address and a Suspended Feature

The launch of Muse has raised concerns about the protection of users' personal data. A tech content creator reported that the Muse agent had transmitted their address to an unknown person via Facebook Marketplace. Additionally, Meta has disabled the conversation-sharing feature of Muse after researchers uncovered exchanges that were made publicly accessible on the internet.