Meta AI Spending Rises as Muse Models Challenge Rivals

Meta is escalating its artificial intelligence push as it competes with OpenAI and Anthropic. On 12 October 2026, the company launched Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, saying the models reach the AI frontier and outperform rivals in some technical tests. They are expected to power the Muse agent app, which reportedly became the most-downloaded app in US app stores; an earlier update said it had reached 6.6 million downloads and 1.8 million daily active users. Meta AI spending is also set to remain high. The company projects 2026 capital expenditure of $130 billion to $145 billion, including more than $100 billion for infrastructure such as data centres, custom chips and contracted nuclear power. Zuckerberg has pledged to keep development moving at pace, while Meta pursues both open and closed models for consumer and enterprise use. Its earlier Llama models had trailed leading competitors. The investment could strengthen Meta’s advertising through better targeting and personalization, while benefiting suppliers such as Nvidia and intensifying competition across the tech sector. Traders will watch Muse adoption, model performance and whether spending stays within forecasts. The news has no direct cryptocurrency catalyst; any effect on crypto prices would likely come indirectly through broader technology sentiment and risk appetite.