In 2026, Big Tech companies’ AI investments are surging to unprecedented levels. The combined AI-related capital expenditures of major tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon are projected to reach $350 billion (approximately ₩650 trillion). This isn’t just a trend; it signifies a structural shift across the entire industry.
According to a CNBC report, Big Tech’s AI spending is nearing $300 billion in 2026, putting significant pressure on cash flow. In particular, astronomical costs are being poured into building data centers and securing AI-specific chips. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, announced a capital expenditure plan of $80 billion for 2026, significantly exceeding Wall Street’s expectations. According to Yahoo Finance, Alphabet’s stock price fell immediately after this announcement. Investors were concerned about the deterioration of short-term profitability. However, each company maintains that investing in AI infrastructure is essential in the long run. Bloomberg analyzes that the total AI computing expenditure of Big Tech could reach $650 billion. This amount exceeds the GDP of most countries. As the demand for GPUs needed for AI model training and inference explodes, semiconductor companies like NVIDIA are also enjoying unprecedented booms.
This investment competition is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Companies share a sense of crisis that falling behind in the AI race could mean losing market dominance itself. While short-term cash flow pressures and stock price volatility are inevitable, industry experts agree that the companies that secure AI infrastructure first will be the winners of the next 10 years. The point at which this investment translates into actual sales will be a key variable determining the future of Big Tech.
FAQ
Q: What is the total AI investment of Big Tech in 2026?
A: AI-related capital expenditures of major Big Tech companies are estimated to be approximately $350 billion to as much as $650 billion. Alphabet alone is planning $80 billion.
Q: What is the impact of the surge in AI investment on stock prices?
A: Negative in the short term. In the case of Alphabet, the stock price fell after the announcement of a large-scale spending plan. Investors are concerned about declining profitability.
Q: What are the main uses of AI investment?
A: Most of it is being invested in building data centers, securing AI-specific chips (GPUs), and building AI model training and inference infrastructure.