Worldwide spending on artificial intelligence is forecast to reach $2.7 trillion in 2026, up 49.5% from 2025, according to Gartner. The research firm said the increase is being driven by continued investment in AI infrastructure and the growing integration of AI capabilities into software and services.
AI infrastructure is expected to account for the largest share of spending. Gartner forecasts infrastructure spending to reach $1.48 trillion in 2026, compared with $981.9 billion in 2025.
“Demand for AI infrastructure, including AI-optimized IaaS, AI-optimised servers, AI network fabric, AI processing semiconductors and devices, to support anticipated future workloads remains strong and inelastic to pressures from memory-related pricing increases,” said John-David Lovelock, Distinguished VP Analyst at Gartner.
“The buildout of AI data center capacity is the largest infrastructure project humanity has ever undertaken. The capacity growth from hyperscalers and service providers purchasing AI-optimised servers will continue to be the largest single area of spending,” Lovelock said.
Gartner also said software vendors are increasingly embedding agentic AI into existing products. Enterprises are using these embedded capabilities to improve operational efficiency, automate workflows, customer engagement and decision-making.
“Meanwhile enterprises are turning to service providers less often to help them manage the business transformation, and more often for the smaller indirect projects to exploit AI features of their incumbent software system,” Lovelock said.
He added that the combination of transformation and indirect AI projects is forecast to create a $1.2 trillion opportunity in AI services by 2030.
Gartner has also raised its 2026 growth forecast for AI application development platforms to 39%, from 28% in its previous forecast, as enterprises and technology providers seek to develop customised AI applications. The firm also increased its growth forecast for generative AI models to 117%, from 110% previously.