Squawk Pod: Davos 2026: Meta Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan - 01/23/26 | Audio Only

Summary

Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief global affairs officer, discusses Meta's ambition to build personal superintelligence, its heavy spending on AI data centers and power infrastructure, and its lead in wearables through Ray-Ban and Oakley smart glasses. He says Meta AI already has 1 billion monthly active users and expects Meta to catch up on frontier models this year. Kaplan also addresses the geopolitical AI race with China, U.S. regulatory support, and European regulation and tariffs.

• Meta is investing heavily in AI data centers and power to pursue personal superintelligence.
• Kaplan cites Meta's 3.5 billion daily users and strong core business as funding and distribution advantages.
• Meta says it has a lead in wearables, with Ray-Ban and Oakley glasses as a key AI form factor.
• Meta AI has 1 billion monthly active users; Kaplan expects frontier-model catch-up this year.
• Kaplan frames the AI race with China as critical for U.S. national and economic security.
• He says the Trump administration supports AI leadership by clearing permitting and regulatory barriers.
• Meta says it has managed Europe tariffs and continues to grow there despite regulatory friction.