Gartner Forecasts 96% Growth in AI-Optimized IaaS Spending for 2026

This forecast underscores the accelerating shift of AI workloads to the cloud and the massive infrastructure investments required to support them, spanning beyond chipmakers to the full stack of data center services.

The 96% YoY jump, with inference-driven spending expected to grow 55%, reflects real-world deployment of models at scale rather than just training runs.

It matters because AI capex is now a core macro driver, contributing to US GDP growth and influencing everything from energy demand to construction.

Hyperscalers' plans to spend hundreds of billions this year are materializing into higher IaaS revenues for providers, creating a flywheel for related sectors including networking, cooling, and power.

The story is propelled by enterprise adoption of generative and agentic AI, alongside government and research use cases. Traders should monitor quarterly results from cloud leaders for IaaS acceleration, power grid updates, and any signs of capex digestion.

Sectors impacted include cloud infrastructure, utilities, and equipment makers supplying data centers. While bullish for growth-oriented tech, it also flags risks around energy availability and potential cost pressures that could moderate the pace later in the decade.

Next catalysts include updated capex guidance from major cloud providers and any policy shifts on data center permitting.