Meta Platforms has posted impressive first-quarter financial results, showing a robust performance largely fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence and heightened user engagement. The company announced a net income of $16.64 billion, translating to $6.43 per share, marking a 35% increase compared to the same quarter last year. Revenue for the period rose by 16%, reaching $42.31 billion, surpassing analysts' forecasts of $41.34 billion, according to AP News.
Higher user engagement has been a key contributor to Meta's success this quarter. Daily active users across the company's suite of applications grew by 6% to over 3.4 billion in March. AI-driven content recommendations have significantly boosted the amount of time users spend on the company's platforms, with Facebook and Instagram seeing increases in usage by 7% and 6%, respectively. As reported by AP News and Markets Insider, these efforts have culminated in a 12% year-over-year growth in advertising revenue, reaching $31.5 billion.
On the investment front, Meta is doubling down on artificial intelligence, planning to allocate between $64 billion and $72 billion towards AI infrastructure such as data centers and hardware. These investments are expected to bolster the development of AI tools like Llama 4 and new initiatives like a standalone AI assistant app, which aim to refine content personalization and enhance ad targeting. Additionally, Meta's introduction of the Llama API suggests a strategic expansion into cloud services, reinforcing its commitment to integrating AI deeply into its business model as noted by the Financial Times.