? unverified
Through 2030, AI data center owners would need to generate a cumulative $8.5 trillion in revenue to cover announced capital spending, financing costs, and a 12% return on invested capital (ROIC), which we assume to be the hurdle rate of investment capital. However, total enterprise and consumer AI revenue that can be attributed to AI data centers during this period is forecast to reach no more than $3.6 trillion.
Unverified: a five-year forecast by Gartner analyst Will Sommer, published 14 October 2026; it comes due after 2030. Gartner also put more than $3.5 trillion of AI infrastructure spending at risk of impairment by end-2030.