Global investment linked to artificial intelligence is expected to exceed dlrs 1 trillion in 2026 alone, with the United States accounting for about dlrs 581 billion, according to estimates by Goldman Sachs Research cited by Egypt's Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center on Sunday, August 30, 2026.
Cumulative global AI investment is expected to reach about dlrs 1.8 trillion from 2022 through the end of 2026, the center said. The scale of spending reflects a shift from investment concentrated mainly among major US technology companies to a broader global capital-investment cycle covering data centers, semiconductors, infrastructure, and the equipment needed to operate AI applications.
Goldman Sachs Research said differences between its estimates and other figures circulating on AI investment are largely due to differences in methodology. An estimate of about dlrs 794 billion for 2026, for instance, refers to capital expenditure by major US technology companies rather than total global AI investment, and does not represent US AI investment alone, the report said.
Some of that spending is not directly related to AI, while US companies also make part of their investments outside the country. The figure also excludes investment by many private companies and major technology firms in other economies, particularly in Asia. Goldman Sachs Research therefore uses a broader definition of AI-related investment, covering spending by public and private companies linked to the sector both inside and outside the United States.
Relying on the dlrs 794 billion figure alone, it said, would understate global AI investment by about dlrs 200 billion while overstating US investment by roughly the same amount. The investment boom is expected to continue over the next two years. In the United States, AI-related capital expenditure is projected to rise from about 1.8% of GDP in 2026 to 2.5% in 2027 and 2.8% in 2028.
Globally, AI-related capital expenditure is expected to increase from about 0.9% of global GDP in 2026 to 1.3% in 2027 and 1.4% in 2028. Current indicators support the prospect of continued growth: imports of semiconductor manufacturing equipment into Taiwan and South Korea, along with purchasing managers' indices and import prices, remain near their highest levels since 2022, suggesting no imminent slowdown in AI-related capital spending.
The findings underscore the role of AI as a major driver of global capital investment, with spending expanding beyond major US technology companies to a global ecosystem spanning data centers, semiconductors, equipment, and infrastructure. Egypt, China launch 'Eagles of Civilization 2026' air exercise ‘Your Farm in Egypt’ Initiative receives 4,500 applications from Egyptians abroad in 3 days PM declares Thursday, August 27 official holiday marking Prophet Muhammad’s birthday