Gartner Forecasts Worldwide AI Spending to Reach $2.52 Trillion in 2026

Summary

Gartner released its worldwide AI spending forecast on January 15, 2026, projecting total spending of $2.52 trillion in 2026 — a 44% increase year-over-year. AI infrastructure remains the largest spending category, growing from approximately $965 billion in 2025 to $1.37 trillion in 2026. AI-optimized servers are expected to increase by 49% and account for 17% of total AI spending. AI services are forecast to reach nearly $589 billion, while AI software spending is expected to hit $452 billion.