The $2 trillion AI reality check

Why 2026 demands proof, not promises

The global AI investment is entering an accountability era: 2025 spend is set to reach about $1.5 trillion, and projected to reach $2 trillion in 2026. This puts pressure on enterprises to show evidence for value, not just activity. Forrester’s latest predictions underscore this movement as boards and CFOs are required to answer tougher questions on ROI and governance of rapidly growing AI portfolios.​

AI now faces its own version of the attribution problem, known to every major technology shift: Companies are deploying it at a fast pace. However, they lack the data and insights to understand if any of it is actually working and if people are, in fact, effectively using it. And this disconnect is driving the gap between deployment and accountability.

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