Gartner Says Worldwide AI Spending Will Total $2.5 Trillion In 2026

Worldwide spending on AI is forecast to total $2.52 trillion in 2026, a 44% increase year-over-year, according to Gartner, Inc. a business and technology insights company.

“Because AI is in the Trough of Disillusionment throughout 2026, it will most often be sold to enterprises by their encumberment 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.”

Building AI foundations alone will drive a 49% increase in spending on AI-optimized servers, representing 17% of total AI spending (see Table 1). AI infrastructure will also add $401 billion in spending as a result of technology providers building out AI foundations.

Table 1: Worldwide AI Spending by Market, 2025-2027 (Millions of U.S. Dollars)

Source: Gartner (January 2026)

Gartner clients can read more in Forecast: AI Spending, Worldwide, 2024-2029, 4Q25 .

Gartner is the world authority on AI

Gartner is the indispensable partner to C-Level executives and technology providers as they implement AI strategies to achieve their mission-critical priorities. The independence and objectivity of Gartner insights provide clients with the confidence to make informed decisions and unlock the full potential of AI. Clients across the C-Level are using Gartner's proprietary AskGartner AI tool to determine how to leverage AI in their business. With more than 2,500 business and technology experts, 6,000 written insights, as well as more than 1,000 AI use cases and case studies, Gartner is the world authority on AI. More information can be found here.

MENAFN15012026007116015312ID1110603545