Artificial-intelligence leaders may be racing to build data centers, but revenue is lagging behind the bill, according to Bain & Co. The consultancy estimates AI firms will need roughly $2 trillion in annual sales by 2030 to fund compute demand yet face a potential $800 billion shortfall as monetization of services such as ChatGPT trails infrastructure outlays. Big Tech players including Microsoft, Amazon and Meta are on track to lift annual AI spending above $500 billion early next decade, Bain and Bloomberg Intelligence say, even as OpenAI remains loss-making and targets cash-flow breakeven in 2029. Bain also projects global incremental AI computing needs could reach 200 gigawatts by 2030, with the U.S. accounting for half, warning that supply-chain and power constraints could slow progress. The findings raise fresh questions about AI valuations and the durability of current business models.
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