AI infrastructure spending and economic impact projected to rise

Global spending on AI-optimized Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is projected to grow 96% by 2026, reaching $42 billion, according to Gartner. This growth is expected to continue through 2027, with spending potentially hitting $66 billion. This surge is driven by the demand for computational power to support Large Language Model (LLM) training and the operationalization of AI in corporate workflows. A structural shift is occurring where investments in AI inference are expected to surpass those for model training by 2026.

In Brazil, research from Reglab suggests that AI could add up to R$ 986.7 billion to the national GDP between 2027 and 2030, representing approximately 2.77% of the GDP. The projected impact is estimated to stem from 65% labor productivity gains and 35% efficiency improvements in machines and processes. Experts note that while AI can accelerate sectors like industry, agribusiness, and logistics, the country faces the challenge of becoming a producer of technology rather than just a consumer to fully realize these economic benefits.