Meta is undergoing the most significant corporate transformation since Apple pivoted from computers to consumer electronics. This is not a single initiative — it is a fundamental reimagining of what Meta is and what it means to be a technology company in the AI era.
The Transformation in Numbers
| Metric | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q4 2025 Revenue | $59.9B | +24% YoY |
| 2025 CapEx | $72.2B | +84% YoY |
| Daily Active People | 3.58B | +7% YoY |
| Free Cash Flow | $14.1B | Q4 2025 |
| Reality Labs Loss | -$6.0B | $58B+ cumulative |
| Nuclear Secured | 6.6 GW | Largest ever |
The Seven Layers of Vertical Integration
- Applications — The Demand Engine (3.58B users, $58.9B revenue)
- AI Models — Llama Ecosystem (Open weights, ~29% R&D intensity)
- Compute Orchestration — Trading Desk Approach
- Custom Silicon — Breaking Nvidia Dependency (MTIA 3rd gen, Rivos)
- Data Centers — Physical Footprint ($72.2B CapEx, $600B U.S. commitment)
- Energy — The Ultimate Constraint (6.6 GW nuclear)
- AI Wearables — Ray-Ban Meta Glasses (The pivot that worked)
The Closed Loop
Demand (3.58B users) → Proprietary AI Stack → Nothing leaks to competitors
Old business funds new business: Revenue +24% while CapEx +84% — advertising profits build AI infrastructure.
The Strategic Logic
Models commoditize + Platforms saturate + Attention doesn’t compound without infrastructure = Infrastructure is the new moat
This is part of a comprehensive analysis. Read the full analysis on The Business Engineer.









