Meta vs. Microsoft: Michael Ni on the AI CapEx Divergence | With Mike Ni

In our latest segment on the Schwab Network, Michael Ni, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Constellation Research, breaks down the contrasting AI investment stories of two tech giants. 

While both are spending heavily, the market is rewarding them very differently based on how that capital translates to the bottom line.

The Tale of Two CapEx Strategies.
According to Ni, the divergence comes down to immediate margin contribution versus long-cycle platform discipline:

• Meta's AI Monetization Loop: Meta put a 70% increase in CapEx on the board, but they successfully showed how that investment directly contributed to margin.
• Efficiency in the Ad Economy: By embedding AI deeper into ad productization and auto-generation, Meta achieved an 18% lift in impressions and a 6% increase in pricing power.
• Microsoft’s Long-Term View: Microsoft saw a 66% CapEx increase, but Ni notes the market has "punished" them for their platform discipline, even as Azure continues to turn AI infrastructure into durable margins.
• Beyond the Chatbot: Ni emphasizes that enterprise buyers are ramping up spend because AI is now showing real ROI within core business processes, not just simple chat interfaces.