Apollo Global Management Inc. is in discussions to lead a financing package of approximately $35 billion for Meta Platforms Inc., aimed at supporting the development of data centers in the United States. This initiative is part of Meta’s broader strategy to invest up to $65 billion in artificial intelligence projects this year, including the construction of a new data center and expansion of AI teams, as announced by CEO Mark Zuckerberg. The need for substantial investment in AI infrastructure is estimated to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars, attracting significant interest from bankers and investors. Apollo, known for its ability to provide large-scale financing to investment-grade corporations, has been exploring ways to retain a portion of the funding it offers while syndicating the rest to other investors. Meta’s focus on bringing about a gigawatt of computing power online in 2025 underscores the company’s commitment to advancing AI capabilities. This move follows Meta’s announcement of a $10 billion data center in Louisiana and the acquisition of new computer chips to power its products. Meanwhile, Microsoft Corp., another major player in the AI sector, has indicated plans to spend $80 billion on data centers this fiscal year, reflecting the industry’s recognition of the need for sustained investment to meet growing demand.