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Global AI Spending to Hit $2.5 Trillion in 2026 Amid ROI Focus

Global spending on artificial intelligence is projected to surge to $2.52 trillion in 2026, marking a 44% year-over-year increase. The report emphasizes that successful AI adoption depends more on organizational maturity and human capital than on financial investment alone. A significant funding gap of $800 billion is anticipated by 2030 to meet the soaring global demand for AI computing power. Leading companies are already scaling AI across core workflows, achieving substantial EBITDA gains of 10-25%.

Key Points: AI Spending to Reach $2.5 Trillion in 2026, Says Report

  • 44% YoY growth to $2.52 trillion
  • Focus shifts to proven ROI over speculative projects
  • AI infrastructure spending to add $401 billion
  • AI compute faces an $800 billion funding gap by 2030
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Global AI spending projected to reach $2.5 trillion in 2026

Global AI spending is forecast to hit $2.52 trillion in 2026, a 44% YoY increase, driven by infrastructure and a focus on proven outcomes over hype.

Global AI spending projected to reach $2.5 trillion in 2026
"The improved predictability of ROI must occur before AI can truly be scaled up by the enterprise. - John-David Lovelock"

New Delhi, Jan 15

The global spending on AI is forecast to total $2.52 trillion in 2026, a 44 per cent increase year-over-year, according to a report released on Thursday.

AI adoption is fundamentally shaped by the readiness of both human capital and organisational processes, not merely by financial investment, said John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner.

Organisations with greater experiential maturity and self-awareness are increasingly prioritising proven outcomes over speculative potential, he added.

Building AI foundations alone will drive a 49 per cent increase in spending on AI-optimised servers, representing 17 per cent of total AI spending.

AI infrastructure will also add $401 billion in spending as result of technology providers building out AI foundations, said the report.

"Because AI is in the Trough of Disillusionment throughout 2026, it will most often be sold to enterprises by their incumbent software provider rather than bought as part of a new moonshot project," said Lovelock.

"The improved predictability of ROI must occur before AI can truly be scaled up by the enterprise," he added.

A recent report said that at least $2 trillion in annual revenue is needed to fund computing power needed to meet anticipated AI demand globally by 2030. However, even with AI-related savings, the world is still $800 billion short to keep pace with demand, according to new research by Bain & Company.

By 2030, global incremental AI compute requirements could reach 200 gigawatts, with the US accounting for half of the power.

While computational demand increases, leading companies have moved from piloting AI capabilities to profiting from AI as organisations scale the technology across core workflows delivering 10 per cent to 25 per cent earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) gains over the last two years, said the report.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
The energy demand part is scary. 200 gigawatts by 2030? With our power situation in India, how will we support large-scale AI compute? We need massive investment in green energy, not just in servers. Solar and wind have to be part of this AI foundation. ♻️
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Rohit P
"Trough of Disillusionment" is the perfect term. Everyone in my office is talking about AI like it's magic, but very few have a clear plan for ROI. The report is right - it will come from improving existing workflows with proven tech, not moonshots. Let's be practical, bhai log.
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Sarah B
As someone working in tech, I see this daily. The rush to implement AI without proper data governance or skilled people is leading to wasted spend. The 10-25% EBITDA gains are real, but only for companies that did the groundwork first. It's a marathon, not a sprint.
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Vikram M
The $800 billion funding gap is concerning. While the US accounts for half the power demand, India needs a strategic plan to be a player, not just a consumer or backend service provider. Our startups need access to this capital and compute power. Make in India for AI!
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Karthik V
Respectfully, I think the article and the reports focus too much on the corporate, enterprise side. What about affordable AI tools for MSMEs? That's where the real transformation for a country like India will happen. The spending should trickle down to small businesses too.

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