Goldman Sachs Predicts $1 Trillion in Global AI Investment by 2026

Goldman Sachs has estimated that global investment in artificial intelligence (AI) will reach $1 trillion in 2026, surpassing previous projections. According to a research report published this month, the investment surge is expected to occur with approximately $581 billion of it happening in the United States.

The conventional approach used by many investors and analysts to measure AI spending has several limitations, Goldman Sachs said. It does not capture AI investment by private companies or spending by businesses outside the US, including major Asian technology firms.

Joseph Briggs, co-head of Goldman Sachs' global economics team, stated that adjusting for these factors puts global AI-related investment at around $1 trillion this year. He cautioned that the estimate relies on assumptions that are difficult to verify fully and there is a risk of double-counting some spending due to inconsistent financial reporting.

The scale and pace of AI capital spending have become an increasingly important source of uncertainty for financial markets, particularly as investors question whether the returns generated by AI technologies will justify the enormous sums being committed. Goldman Sachs projects that AI investment in the US will rise from 1.8% of US GDP in 2026 to 2.5% in 2027 and 2.8% in 2028.