Visualising AI spending: How does it compare with history's mega projects?

"Spending on AI is forecast to skyrocket to $2.5 trillion in 2026, dwarfing even the largest scientific and infrastructure projects. World leaders and tech executives are convening in New Delhi for the India-AI Impact Summit 2026, focusing on the role of artificial intelligence in governance, job disruption and global collaboration. However, behind these discussions lies the financial reality. Over the past decade, AI has drawn one of the largest waves of private investment in modern history, totalling trillions of dollars."

"According to Gartner, a United States-based business and technology insights company, worldwide spending on AI is forecast to total $2.5 trillion in 2026, a 44 percent increase over 2025. To understand the magnitude of these investments, Al Jazeera visualises the staggering amounts by comparing them with some of the largest projects ever created by humanity. We also highlight which countries are spending the most on AI and provide insights into expenditures on data centres, models, services, and security."

"To help understand a trillion dollars, it is useful to first visualise what millions and billions of dollars look like by using a stack of US dollar bills. If you break these amounts down using $100 bills, here is how they stack up: $1,000 would form a stack about 1cm (0.393-inch) high. $10,000 would form a stack approximately 10cm (3.93-inch) high. $1m would fit inside a briefcase. $10m would fit inside a very large suitcase. $100m would fit on an industrial pallet stacked waist-high."

Global spending on artificial intelligence is forecast to reach $2.5 trillion in 2026, a 44 percent increase over 2025 according to Gartner. World leaders and technology executives are meeting at the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 to address governance, job disruption and international collaboration. Private investment in AI has totalled trillions of dollars over the past decade, fueling rapid expansion. Visual comparisons contrast AI expenditures with some of humanity’s largest projects and reveal which countries spend most. Spending breakdowns examine data centres, AI models, services and security. Practical visual aids convert dollars into stacks of $100 bills and time-based spending equivalents.

Read at www.aljazeera.com