Gartner Forecasts Surge in Worldwide AI Spending
Global AI investments are projected to hit $2.59 trillion as enterprises ramp up infrastructure and automation tools.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Jun 04, 2026
Global spending on artificial intelligence is projected to reach $2.59 trillion, marking a 47% increase year-over-year, according to a report by business and technology insights firm Gartner Inc.
The demand for capacity is expected to position AI infrastructure as the largest market segment, accounting for more than 45% of overall spending. This segment includes optimized servers, storage, network fabric, processing semiconductors and internet-as-a-service (IaaS) solutions.
John-David Lovelock, distinguished VP analyst at Gartner, noted that spending on AI-optimized servers is on track to triple over the next five years. This growth is primarily driven by cloud service providers expanding capacity to accommodate generative AI models and complex, agentic workflows.
Businesses are increasingly integrating generative AI models into existing software applications and deploying new AI agents across multiple operational workflows. This shift toward multi-step automation has accelerated the short-term outlook for AI models, driving a 110% growth forecast and adding $6 billion in spending.
According to the report, AI spending has historically been dominated by technology companies and hyperscalers. However, analysts identify the upcoming market shifts as a critical turning point where traditional enterprises begin to scale their investments.
Currently, most organizations are utilizing AI for tactical initiatives aimed at incremental improvements in efficiency and productivity, rather than large-scale corporate restructuring.
Consequently, chief information officers continue to face hurdles in demonstrating tangible business outcomes and proving the direct value of these high-cost AI investments. Experts emphasize that aligning AI projects with strategic business objectives remains necessary to ensure long-term financial success amid broader economic hype.