Goldman Sachs: AI Investment to Hit $1 Trillion by 2026
By Business Desk
Goldman Sachs forecasts a massive $1 trillion AI investment by 2026, representing 1.4% of global GDP by 2028. The US leads the surge.
Goldman Sachs projects global artificial intelligence (AI) capital expenditure will reach approximately $1 trillion in 2026, marking a significant milestone in technology investment. This robust growth trajectory is expected to push global AI investment to 1.4% of global GDP by 2028, up from 0.9% in 2026.
Scaling Global AI Capital
The financial institution’s report highlights the ongoing expansion in AI technology and infrastructure as primary drivers for this accelerated investment. The United States is positioned to lead this surge, contributing an estimated $581 billion this year.
Key projections from Goldman Sachs include:
Global AI capital expenditure is set to hit approximately $1 trillion in 2026.
Cumulative global investment in AI since 2022 is anticipated to reach $1.8 trillion by the end of 2026.
Global AI investment will climb from 0.9% of global GDP in 2026 to 1.4% by 2028.
United States Leads Investment Surge
The US contribution of roughly $581 billion this year encompasses spending from various entities, including non-hyperscalers, private companies, and international investments within the nation. This broad base underscores the widespread adoption and funding of AI initiatives.
US AI investment is forecasted to grow from 1.8% of GDP in 2026 to 2.5% in 2027, eventually reaching 2.8% in 2028. These levels align with historical general-purpose technology booms, which typically peaked between 2% and 5% of GDP.
Market Implications and Data Verification
Goldman Sachs notes that the pace and sheer scale of AI investment introduce significant uncertainties for both financial markets and the broader economy. However, near-term data provides strong indicators of sustained AI spending strength.
Current market signals include robust manufacturing equipment imports, positive purchasing managers’ indices, and elevated GPU rental rates. While acknowledging potential double-counting risks and inherent assumptions, cross-checks using diverse data sources largely corroborate the $1 trillion global AI investment estimate for 2026.