Timothy Morano
Feb 17, 2026 21:53
Meta commits to multiyear NVIDIA partnership deploying millions of GPUs, Grace CPUs, and Spectrum-X networking across hyperscale AI data centers.
NVIDIA locked in one of its largest enterprise deals to date on February 17, 2026, announcing a multiyear strategic partnership with Meta that will see millions of Blackwell and next-generation Rubin GPUs deployed across hyperscale data centers. The agreement spans on-premises infrastructure, cloud deployments, and represents the first large-scale Grace-only CPU rollout in the industry.
The scope here is staggering. Meta isn’t just buying chips—it’s building an entirely unified architecture around NVIDIA’s full stack, from Arm-based Grace CPUs to GB300 systems to Spectrum-X Ethernet networking. Mark Zuckerberg framed the ambition bluntly: delivering “personal superintelligence to everyone in the world” through the Vera Rubin platform.
What’s Actually Being Deployed
The partnership covers three major infrastructure layers. First, Meta is scaling up Grace CPU deployments for data center production applications, with NVIDIA claiming “significant performance-per-watt improvements.” The companies are already collaborating on Vera CPU deployment, targeting large-scale rollout in 2027.
Second, millions of Blackwell and Rubin GPUs will power both training and inference workloads. For context, Meta’s recommendation and personalization systems serve billions of users daily—the compute requirements are enormous.
Third, Meta has adopted Spectrum-X Ethernet switches across its infrastructure footprint, integrating them into Facebook’s Open Switching System platform. This addresses a critical bottleneck: AI workloads at this scale require predictable, low-latency networking that traditional setups struggle to deliver.
The Confidential Computing Angle
Perhaps the most underreported element: Meta has adopted NVIDIA Confidential Computing for WhatsApp’s private processing. This enables AI-powered features across the messaging platform while maintaining data confidentiality—a crucial capability as regulators scrutinize how tech giants handle user data in AI applications.
NVIDIA and Meta are already working to expand these confidential compute capabilities beyond WhatsApp to other Meta products.
Why This Matters for Markets
Jensen Huang’s statement that “no one deploys AI at Meta’s scale” isn’t hyperbole. This deal essentially validates NVIDIA’s roadmap from Blackwell through Rubin and into the Vera generation. For investors tracking AI infrastructure spending, Meta’s commitment to “millions” of GPUs across multiple generations provides visibility into demand well into 2027 and beyond.
The deep codesign element—engineering teams from both companies optimizing workloads together—also signals this isn’t a simple procurement relationship. Meta is betting its AI future on NVIDIA’s platform, from silicon to software stack.
With Vera CPU deployments potentially scaling in 2027, this partnership has years of execution ahead. The question now: which hyperscaler commits next?
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