Meta Platforms reports a sharp decline in free cash flow in its most recent quarterly results, a development that contributes to a drop in the company’s stock price. According to Reuters coverage cited by Daily Maverick, Meta’s second-quarter free cash flow falls 91% year over year, highlighting financial pressure as the company increases spending on AI infrastructure and related efforts while the timing and payoff of that investment remain uncertain. Fortune reports that Meta’s shares decline by about 10% following the results, linking the market reaction to the large compression in free cash flow, even as the company’s core social media business continues to show strength. Both outlets frame the results as reflecting a widening gap between Meta’s established advertising-driven cash generation and the cash demands of its broader AI ambitions. Separately, Fortune says Mark Zuckerberg hints at the possibility of launching a cloud business, though with limited details, adding to investor attention on how Meta plans to monetize its AI and technology investments.