Much of the capital expenditures for the AI data center buildout is being paid for with operating cash flows. But the sheer magnitude of the spending has prompted many of the internet companies to do something they haven't done much of in the past: borrow money.
In 2025, Alphabet, Amazon,
Oracle, Meta and Microsoft issued about
$121 billion in new debt via bonds, compared to $40 billion in 2020. And the pace is not expected to slow down anytime soon: Wall Street estimates show the AI-related bond supply could be in the
range of $100 billion to
$300 billion this year. Over the next three to five years, total data center investment could run $1.5 trillion to $3 trillion, according to some analyses.
The trend is already changing the stakes for businesses that have traditionally had no need to borrow, introducing a new layer of stakeholders, obligations, and risks that are transforming how internet companies operate and how they are valued by investors. Bond investors, unlike equity investors, don’t seek out unlimited upside, they focus on being compensated fairly for taking on risks, including those related to overinvestment that leads to a glut in supply. Read Fortune's deep dive on the AI bond binge and why it matters.—
Amanda Gerut