Zuckerberg Unveils Prometheus and Hyperion Projects
Meta is preparing to make one of the most ambitious investments in artificial intelligence to date, with founder Mark Zuckerberg announcing plans to build massive data centers across the United States. The company expects to spend hundreds of billions of dollars on AI infrastructure, beginning with two mega-projects named Prometheus and Hyperion.
Prometheus, Meta’s first multi-gigawatt AI data center, will be constructed in New Albany, Ohio, and is scheduled to begin operations in 2026. Hyperion, a separate data cluster planned for Louisiana, could eventually scale up to five gigawatts and is expected to be fully operational by 2030.
Projects on an Unprecedented Scale
Zuckerberg described the scale of the new facilities as unprecedented. One of the upcoming AI clusters is expected to span an area nearly the size of Manhattan, or approximately 59 square kilometers. He emphasized that Meta is building “multiple more titan clusters,” all intended to drive its AI development goals.
The facilities will support Meta’s push to build “superintelligence”—AI technology that the company claims will surpass human cognitive abilities. Meta’s AI roadmap signals a deep commitment to becoming a dominant player in the rapidly evolving AI ecosystem.
Rising Investment and Competitive Edge
Meta, which earned more than $160 billion in revenue in 2024, has already made significant AI investments. But this latest announcement underscores its intention to lead in a highly competitive space. Industry analyst Karl Freund noted that the strategy appears to center on outspending rivals, stating that Zuckerberg “intends to spend his way to the top of the AI heap.”
The announcement gave Meta’s stock a modest boost, rising 1% after the news. The company’s shares have gained more than 20% this year as investors react positively to its long-term AI positioning and infrastructure strategy.
Environmental Impact and Industry Context
While AI promises revolutionary capabilities, the data centers required to power such systems come with steep environmental costs. AI data centers are notorious for consuming vast amounts of electricity and water. A recent study estimated global AI data centers could use up to 1.7 trillion gallons of water annually by 2027. Even a single AI query can use the equivalent of a small bottle of water.
Currently, the US leads the world in data center count, followed by the UK and Germany. Meta’s latest announcement will further reinforce the US’s dominance in this sector, especially as it shifts toward AI-specific infrastructure. The company’s continued buildout signals that the race for AI supremacy is not only about algorithms and software but also about massive, energy-intensive physical infrastructure.
