Key Points
- Restrictions are attributed to computing capacity shortages
- The shortfall reportedly delayed Meta’s internal AI projects
- The move highlights growing infrastructure constraints across the industry
- Neither Google nor Meta has publicly commented on the report
ISLAMABAD: Google has reportedly placed limits on Meta’s use of its Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) models after the social media giant requested more computing capacity than the data conglomerate could provide.
The reported lack exposed the mounting infrastructure pressures facing the global AI industry.
The consequent restrictions underscore that even the world’s largest technology and data firms are struggling to secure sufficient computing power to meet surging demand for advanced AI services.
According to a Financial Times report, Google informed Meta around March that it could not meet the full Gemini computing capacity the company had sought to purchase.
The resulting shortfall reportedly disrupted and delayed several of Meta’s internal AI projects. It leaves one of the hardest-hit customers because of its exceptionally great demand for AI infrastructure.
Reuters said it could not independently verify the report.
The report said several other Google customers have also experienced capacity constraints, although the impact has been less severe than for Meta.
In response, Meta has reportedly urged employees to use AI tokens, the units that measure AI model usage, more efficiently in an effort to manage limited computing resources.
The reported restrictions come despite unprecedented investment across the technology sector in data centres and advanced semiconductor chips.
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Industry leaders have collectively committed hundreds of billions of dollars to expand AI infrastructure, yet demand for high-performance computing continues to outstrip available supply.
Capacity squeeze affecting Google itself
The capacity squeeze has also affected Google’s own cloud business.
Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai said earlier that Google Cloud generated $20 billion in revenue during the first quarter ended March. But he acknowledged that shortages of computing capacity prevented even stronger growth and contributed to a sharp increase in the division’s order backlog.
The Financial Times also reported that Meta has increasingly relied on external models, such as Gemini, for applications including software development, customer support, advertising and scam detection.
However, the company has begun shifting some workloads to its own newer AI models to reduce dependence on external providers.
None of the two companies mentioned in the report immediately responded to requests for comment outside normal business hours, according to Reuters
