Big Tech’s big AI buildout will not end until someone stops it

<figure> <img alt="Graphic image of a data center." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Image: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty Images" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/06/STKS528_DATA_CENTERS2_B.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">After four of the biggest competitors in the AI race held quarterly earnings calls late last month, two things are clear: Big Tech is not done spending record amounts on the AI data center buildout, and the AI data center buildout is not any closer to yielding its promised returns.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">A third thing is also starting to become clear - Big Tech will not be slowing down, at least not on its own.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Amazon, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Meta told investors they're planning to spend at least $720 billion on CapEx this year alone. Most of that will go toward AI infrastructure. That's on top of at least $1 trillion in spending commitments that have bee …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1027344/amazon-microsoft-alphabet-google-meta-data-centers-earnings-q3">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>