AI services could account for 8.8% of US GDP by 2032

Artificial intelligence services could account for 8.8 per cent of US gross domestic product by 2032, according to projections estimating how much businesses and consumers may spend on AI each year.

The forecast suggests annual revenue for AI companies could reach about US$3.5 trillion by 2032, placing the sector among the largest areas of spending in the US economy. However, the figure represents a projection rather than a confirmed outcome, and its accuracy will depend on how quickly AI adoption grows and how much customers are willing to pay for these services.

The estimate puts spending on AI services close to current consumer spending on food, which accounts for about 9.1 per cent of US GDP under the comparison provided. AI spending is projected to exceed the equivalent shares attributed to energy, construction, and computers and software.

At the projected 8.8 per cent share, AI services would represent about 72 per cent more of GDP than energy, estimated at 5.1 per cent. The figure would be twice the 4.4 per cent share attributed to construction and computers and software, nearly three times the 2.8 per cent share for defence, and more than seven times the 1.2 per cent share for communications and internet services.

Healthcare remains considerably larger in this comparison, accounting for about 18 per cent of US GDP.

The forecast reflects expectations that AI will become embedded in a growing range of business operations and consumer services. Companies are investing in AI tools for tasks such as software development, customer support, data analysis and automation, while providers are expanding access through subscriptions, cloud platforms and enterprise services.

Yet the scale of future spending remains uncertain. AI adoption does not automatically translate into revenue at the levels projected, and businesses will weigh the costs of deploying these systems against the productivity gains they deliver. Competition, pricing, infrastructure expenses and regulation could also influence how much revenue AI providers ultimately generate.

The distinction between spending on AI services and the wider economic impact of AI is important. The projected 8.8 per cent share refers to annual spending on services provided by AI companies, rather than a direct measure of AI’s total contribution to economic output or productivity.

If the forecast is realised, AI services could become a major category of US economic spending over the next six years. The projection offers a view of the industry’s potential scale, while leaving open how quickly that growth will occur and how its benefits and costs will be distributed across the economy.