Meta's ambitious plans for an artificial intelligence (AI) data center in Louisiana are now tied to a staggering $50 billion price tag, according to comments from former President Donald Trump during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The facility, located in Richland Parish, is slated to become the social media giant's largest data center, designed to support cutting-edge AI workloads and enhance digital infrastructure.

The cost of the project underscores Meta's intensified commitment to AI development. The company’s efforts to secure funding for the Louisiana facility have already involved significant financial arrangements. Earlier this month, it was reported that Meta enlisted the assistance of U.S. bond investment giant PIMCO and alternative asset manager Blue Owl Capital to orchestrate $29 billion in financing for its data center expansion.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, declined to comment on Trump's disclosure regarding the $50 billion figure.

A High-Stakes Push for AI

The Louisiana data center is a key part of Meta's broader AI strategy. Last year, the company announced plans to invest over $10 billion to kickstart the construction of the project. Since then, Meta has restructured its AI division under Superintelligence Labs as part of its high-stakes strategy to lead in AI innovation. This reorganization followed a series of challenges, including notable staff departures and mixed reactions to its Llama 4 open-source AI model.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg affirmed Meta's expansive vision in AI development, stating last month that the company plans to invest "hundreds of billions of dollars" in building multiple massive AI data centers. These facilities are intended to provide the computational power necessary for Meta’s long-term ambitions in artificial intelligence.

Scaling up Innovation

As Meta accelerates its push into AI, Trump’s remarks have highlighted the immense scale of its investment in the Louisiana facility. The Richland Parish data center is expected to play a crucial role in advancing Meta's AI capabilities while potentially reshaping the technology landscape.

(Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru and Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington; Editing by Vijay Kishore)

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