Big Tech set to spend $650 billion in 2026 as AI investments soar

Core Insights - The four major tech companies, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta, are projected to invest over $650 billion in artificial intelligence in 2026, with significant capital expenditures planned [1][2][3] Investment Plans - Amazon plans to invest approximately $200 billion in capital expenditures by 2026 [1] - Alphabet's capital expenditures are expected to range between $175 billion and $185 billion for the current year [1] - Meta's spending is projected to be between $115 billion and $135 billion in 2026 [2] - Microsoft's annual run rate for capital expenditures is estimated at $145 billion for its 2026 fiscal year [2] Expenditure Growth - The total spending from these four companies is expected to increase by about 67% to 74% compared to their $381 billion expenditures in 2025, with a low-end estimate of $635 billion and a high-end estimate of $665 billion [3] Focus Areas - The majority of the investments will be directed towards AI chips, servers, and data center infrastructure [3] Market Reactions - Following the announcements, Amazon's stock fell over 8%, Alphabet's shares dropped 3%, and Microsoft experienced an 11% decline after reporting slower growth in its Azure cloud unit [5] - In contrast, Meta's stock rallied due to positive quarterly results and the impact of AI on its ad revenue [6] Investor Sentiment - Investors are exhibiting caution regarding the spending plans of tech companies, reflecting a more scrutinizing approach towards returns on AI investments [6][7] - There is a growing belief in the transformative potential of AI for enterprises, influenced by advancements from companies like Anthropic and Google's Gemini 3 [8]