Meta reports a sharp decline in free cash flow while maintaining large-scale spending on artificial intelligence, missing profit expectations in the latest period covered by the sources. The Hindu reports that Meta’s free cash flow falls to about $784 million, down from $8.5 billion a year earlier, attributing the decline to the company’s sustained AI spending. Gizmodo similarly says Meta’s free cash flow drops by nearly $8 billion over the year, pointing to limited returns from its AI investment as a factor. Both sources describe Meta as continuing to spend heavily on AI despite weaker cash generation. Separately, Gizmodo also highlights that Meta faces social media-related legal challenges, framing them as part of the broader pressure around the company’s performance. The sources collectively indicate that Meta’s near-term financial results show less cash available for shareholders and operations, while the company continues its AI infrastructure push. Neither source disputes Meta’s ongoing investment strategy, but both stress the mismatch between spending levels and the financial payoff measured through free cash flow.