In a recent Instagram Reels post, Mark Zuckerberg, the CEO of Meta (formerly Facebook), unveiled the company's extensive investment in Nvidia's popular computer chips. These chips, known for their prowess in artificial intelligence (AI) research and projects, are a crucial component of Meta's future roadmap. With plans to build a massive compute infrastructure, Meta aims to accelerate its research in artificial general intelligence (AGI), a long-term vision for the company. This significant investment underscores the growing importance of AI in shaping the future of technology.
Meta's Compute Infrastructure Expansion:
Mark Zuckerberg stated that by the end of 2024, Meta's compute infrastructure will comprise a staggering 350,000 H100 graphics cards from Nvidia. While the exact number of GPUs already purchased remains undisclosed, the limited supply of the H100, which was released in late 2022, indicates Meta's commitment to securing these cutting-edge chips. With each H100 estimated to cost between $25,000 and $30,000, Meta's expenditures could reach close to $9 billion, assuming they paid at the lower end of the price range.
Furthermore, Zuckerberg mentioned that Meta's compute infrastructure will include "almost 600k H100 equivalents of compute if you include other GPUs." This expansion extends beyond Nvidia, as Meta, along with OpenAI and Microsoft, has also expressed plans to utilize AMD's Instinct MI300X AI computer chips. These heavy-duty computer chips are essential for Meta's AGI research, which aims to achieve AI capabilities comparable to human-level intelligence.
The Significance of GPUs in AGI Research:
Yann LeCun, Meta's chief scientist, emphasized the vital role of GPUs in accelerating AGI research during a recent media event. LeCun highlighted the necessity of acquiring more GPUs, stating, "If you think AGI is in, the more GPUs you have to buy." He also referred to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang as the supplier of weapons in the ongoing AI war. This statement underlines the fierce competition among tech giants in securing the necessary computing power to advance AI capabilities.
Meta's Investment Priorities and Open-Source Approach:
In Meta's third-quarter earnings report, the company stated that AI would be its most significant investment area in 2024, both in terms of engineering and computer resources. Mark Zuckerberg reiterated this during the call with analysts, emphasizing the company's commitment to AI advancement. Additionally, Zuckerberg announced Meta's intention to "open source responsibly" its forthcoming general intelligence, aligning with their approach to their large language models under the Llama family.
Meta's multi-billion dollar investment in Nvidia AI chips reflects the company's determination to remain at the forefront of AI research and development. As Meta pursues its long-term vision of achieving artificial general intelligence, the acquisition of advanced computer chips becomes paramount. By partnering with Nvidia and AMD, Meta is building a formidable compute infrastructure to power its AI ambitions. This investment serves as a testament to the growing significance of AI in shaping the future of technology and highlights the intense competition among industry leaders in this transformative field.
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