Analysis-AI's race to transform the world before the money runs out

FILE PHOTO: "AI Artificial Intelligence" words, a keyboard and a robotics hand in this illustration taken, September 23, 2026. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

LONDON, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Never has so much cash flowed into a new technology ⁠as is pouring into AI, eclipsing the sums splurged on railways or the internet when those technological revolutions sucked in capital.

Cumulative spending globally on data centers alone could top $30 trillion by 2050, according to a projection by PwC, ⁠almost matching the value of outstanding US Treasuries. It "dwarfs" what was spent in the railroad or dotcom booms, even after adjusting for inflation, PwC said.

Thank you for your report!

South Africa turns to technology, planning to reshape entrenched settlement patterns

Agency steps up public outreach programme on nuclear technology

US jury says Apple owes record $5.7 billion in haptic technology patent case

资料图片：这张摄于2026年9月23日的插图显示了“AI 人工智能”字样、键盘和机械手。路透社/Dado Ruvic/插图/资料图片

伦敦，10 月 3 日（路透社）——从未有如此多的资金流入一项新技术，就像人工智能领域一样，其规模超过了铁路或互联网在技术革命时期吸引资本时的投入。

普华永道预测，到2050年，全球数据中心累计支出可能超过30万亿美元，几乎与美国未偿国债的总额相当。普华永道表示，即使考虑到通货膨胀因素，这一数字也“远远超过”铁路或互联网泡沫时期的支出。

感谢您的报告！

南非转向科技，计划重塑根深蒂固的聚落模式

该机构加强了核技术方面的公众宣传计划

美国陪审团裁定苹果公司在触觉技术专利案中需支付创纪录的57亿美元赔偿金