Meta to begin production of custom 'Iris' AI chip in September

The social media giant's move to manufacture its own silicon aims to boost computing capacity to 14 gigawatts next year, reducing reliance on external suppliers.

By Handelsavisen Newsroom · Automated 2026-07-09 12:20 UTC · 1 min read

Meta Platforms is set to begin manufacturing its custom artificial intelligence chip, codenamed "Iris," in September.

The development marks a significant step in the company's strategy to vertically integrate its AI infrastructure and reduce dependency on third-party semiconductor suppliers like Nvidia.

According to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters, the launch of the Iris chip is a key component of Meta's plan to expand its overall computing power to 14 gigawatts by next year.

This capacity expansion is critical for supporting the growing demand for AI-driven features across its family of apps, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The move comes as Meta continues to invest heavily in AI infrastructure, a strategy that has previously weighed on investor sentiment.

Shares of the company recently declined following reports that it might raise tens of billions of dollars through a stock offering to fund its AI ambitions.