The Big Tech are redefining the future, with unprecedented investments in artificial intelligence (AI). In 2024, the sector focuses on advanced infrastructures and strategic innovations to consolidate its dominance and accelerate economic growth.
Let’s see all the details in this article.
Record investments: 2024 marks a turning point with over $240 billion allocated to AI by Big Tech
In the global technological landscape, 2024 is shaping up to be a crucial year for the development of artificial intelligence (AI).
The tech giants, including Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta, are investing astronomical amounts in research, infrastructure, and applications, surpassing the record threshold of 240 billion dollars.
AI is no longer just a future promise; it has become the driving force of the present, transforming the way companies and consumers interact with technology. It’s no coincidence that the figures speak for themselves.
In the first half of 2023, the Big Tech companies spent 74 billion dollars on infrastructure and advanced technologies, a value that increased by 47% compared to the previous year.
This trend continued in 2024, with quarterly spending reaching 171 billion dollars in the third quarter. If the pace continues, the fourth quarter could bring another 70 billion dollars, setting a new benchmark for the sector.
But why this level of spending? AI is a market in full expansion, with a global economic potential estimated at 20 trillion dollars by 2030.
In emerging economies like India, the contribution of AI to GDP could reach 500 billion dollars as early as 2025. With such a significant economic impact, companies cannot afford to fall behind.
It is emphasized that behind these record investments there are enormous infrastructure needs. The training of AI models requires cutting-edge data centers and high-performance GPUs, sectors in which companies like Alphabet are leading the charge.
The company has increased its capital expenditures by 62% compared to the previous year, while simultaneously reducing its workforce to optimize costs.
Microsoft and Amazon are also key players. Microsoft anticipates that its AI-based products will generate 10 billion dollars per year, while Amazon aims to invest 75 billion dollars in technological infrastructure by the end of 2024.
Meta, for its part, dedicates between 38 and 40 billion dollars to consolidate its position in the market, using AI to improve user engagement on its platforms.
An impact on a large scale
The benefits of investments in AI are already materializing. Microsoft has recorded significant growth with the Azure platform, whose AI-related revenues are approaching 6 billion dollars.
Amazon is experiencing triple-digit growth rates in the AI sector, while Alphabet has seen a 34% increase in profits thanks to the crucial role of the cloud.
Even Meta leverages AI to make its platforms more engaging, with advanced tools that increase user retention and generate new revenue streams.
These examples demonstrate how AI is transforming business models, offering unprecedented growth opportunities.
In other words, for the Big Tech, artificial intelligence represents more than a technology: it is a strategic vision. Microsoft and Alphabet, for example, see AI as an essential long-term investment, with results already visible in their balance sheets.
While the current attention is focused on the expansion of infrastructure, the true impact of AI will emerge when these technologies begin to redefine entire sectors. Consequently profoundly influencing the way we live and work.
The foundations have been laid, but the revolutionary promise of artificial intelligence will depend on the ability of companies to invest in quality data and reliable implementation strategies.
Only in this way will it be possible to fully exploit the potential of this technology and ensure sustainable growth, transforming not only the markets, but also society as a whole.