Global investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure will hit a record $31.6 trillion through to 2050, according to baseline projections in PwC’s Global Data Centre Outlook. On an annual basis, data center capital expenditure (capex) is forecast to rise from roughly $800 billion per year in 2026 to $1.8 trillion per year in 2050.
The United States, which is central to the advanced-chip ecosystem, is expected to capture almost half (48 percent) of this investment, at $15.1 trillion. Asia Pacific is expected to account for $8.2 trillion cumulative capex, led by China and India, while sovereign AI strategies are accelerating investment in Europe and the Middle East.
Unlike traditional infrastructure booms, which taper off after the initial build out, AI infrastructure investment is expected to accelerate as chips and other information and communication technology (ICT) equipment require upgrades every few years. ICT equipment will account for an inc
