OpenAI's spending bonanza has Wall Street focused on capex in Big Tech earnings reports
CNBC·2025-10-27 11:30

Core Insights - The article discusses the significant capital expenditures (capex) by major tech companies in response to the growing demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, with a focus on the hyperscalers like Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta, and Amazon [1][2][3] Capital Expenditures Overview - Microsoft is expected to increase its capex by 42% to $91.3 billion this fiscal year, following a 45% growth in the previous year, with a projected $30 billion in the current quarter [11][12] - Alphabet anticipates a capex of $85 billion for the year, up from a previous target of $75 billion, with plans for further increases in 2026 [13][15] - Meta has raised its 2025 capex forecast to $69 billion, reflecting a strong commitment to AI infrastructure despite not having a cloud service [16][17] - Amazon plans to spend over $100 billion on capex this year, with a focus on AI chips and data centers, expecting a 41% growth to $117 billion [20][22] - Apple, while spending significantly less than its competitors, is projected to increase its capex by 28% to $12.1 billion for fiscal 2025, indicating a shift in strategy [23][24] AI Infrastructure and Market Dynamics - The article highlights a critical shortage of compute capacity as a major bottleneck for AI development, prompting companies to invest heavily in supercomputing data centers [4][7] - OpenAI has announced plans for $1 trillion in future infrastructure developments, setting a high benchmark for other companies [4] - Analysts expect total hyperscaler capital expenditures to grow by 24% next year, reaching nearly $550 billion, indicating a robust investment climate in AI [7] Revenue Growth and Competitive Landscape - Companies are under pressure to demonstrate revenue growth alongside their capital investments, particularly in their cloud units [8][9] - Microsoft and Google are focusing on how their AI features are enhancing growth in other business areas, while Meta claims its AI technology improves ad targeting [9][10]