According to market research firm Gartner, global AI spending is projected to reach $2.5957 trillion this year, up from $1.7649 trillion last year. By 2027, spending is expected to rise to $3.4934 trillion.
Infrastructure will account for the largest share of this spending. Gartner estimates that AI infrastructure spending will reach $1.4315 trillion this year, representing over 45% of total AI expenditure. This category includes AI-optimized cloud infrastructure (IaaS), AI servers, networking equipment, AI semiconductors, and AI devices.
The increase in infrastructure investment is driven by the need for large-scale computing facilities to support generative AI models and AI agents.
John David Lovelock, a vice president and analyst at Gartner, stated, "The demand for facilities to run AI will continue over the next few years, making AI infrastructure the largest segment of the market." He anticipates that spending on AI-optimized servers will triple over the next five years.
Expenditures on services and software are also expected to rise. Gartner forecasts that AI service spending will reach $585.5 billion this year, while AI software spending is projected at $453.2 billion. Spending related to the development and use of AI models is expected to increase by 110% from last year, reaching $32.6 billion.
However, investments in AI by traditional enterprises are still in the early stages. Lovelock noted, "So far, AI spending has primarily been led by technology companies and hyperscalers, while traditional enterprises have not yet fully embraced AI investment."
He views 2026 as a turning point, explaining that companies are currently prioritizing limited implementations aimed at improving operational efficiency and productivity over large-scale structural changes.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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