Big Tech’s AI Spending Frenzy: Who’s Charging Ahead and Who’s Slowing Down?

Picture Credit: Pinterest

As Big Tech companies roll out quarterly earnings, one theme dominates: artificial intelligence. Across the board, tech giants are pouring billions into AI infrastructure — but while some are stepping on the gas, others are starting to tap the brakes.

Alphabet is going all-in, projecting a staggering $75 billion in capital expenditures for 2025 — a 43% jump year-over-year — to supercharge its AI efforts in products like Search and its Gemini chatbot. First-quarter spending alone hit $17.2 billion.

Amazon isn’t far behind, with expected 2025 capex topping $100 billion, mostly to fuel AI growth in AWS. Q1 alone saw $24.3 billion in spending — a 70% leap. CEO Andy Jassy sees AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

Meta is also ramping up fast, raising its 2025 investment forecast to as much as $72 billion, up from $39 billion in 2024. CEO Mark Zuckerberg called AI “the major theme” at Meta, underlining its central role in the company’s future.

Microsoft, on the other hand, is signaling a shift. While still planning $80 billion in AI infrastructure spending for fiscal 2025, the company suggests it may slow some projects and pivot toward more revenue-linked assets. “We may strategically pace our plans,” said its cloud chief.

Apple made waves with the biggest commitment of all: $500 billion over four years for AI, manufacturing, and chip development in the U.S. It plans to expand in states like Texas and California and open a new advanced server factory.