Goldman Sachs Expects Global AI Investment to Surpass $1 Trillion by 2026

Goldman Sachs researchers have adjusted their estimates of global AI investment, predicting that it will exceed $1 trillion by the end of 2026. According to their report, the U.S. will account for approximately $581 billion of this total.

The current method of estimating AI investment, which focuses on capital expenditures (CAPEX) of mega-tech companies in the U.S., is seen as inadequate by Goldman Sachs analysts. They believe that this approach fails to capture investments made by private firms and non-U.S. companies, including those in Asia.

By using a more comprehensive estimate, Goldman Sachs forecasts global AI investment to reach $1.019 trillion by 2026. The researchers also calculate the cumulative total investment in the AI sector worldwide, averaging around $1.8 trillion by the end of this year.

The report highlights that while estimates vary slightly across methods, they all indicate significant growth in AI-related capital spending. Goldman Sachs' Joseph Briggs notes that the outlook for AI investment remains uncertain and is a primary source of macroeconomic concern.