This Week In Cloud AI - AI Spending Soars Worldwide As Industries Transform

In its first year, BCC Research's Artificial Intelligence vertical has developed a comprehensive suite of reports to provide a detailed view of the global AI market. This collection includes quarterly Core Four reports alongside monthly Pulse Reports and an AI Sentiment Index, offering insights into AI adoption, disruption, usage, and investment across various industries worldwide. Notably, the reports highlight a structural shift in industries such as finance, logistics, and digital health, as they integrate AI more fundamentally into their operations. BCC Research projects a significant increase in global AI spending, estimating it will reach $2.5 trillion by 2026. These developments underscore the growing impact of AI across sectors, moving from experimental stages to widespread organizational implementation.

In other trading, Samsung Electronics (KOSE:A005930) was a standout up 28.5% and ending trading at ₩266,000. This week, Samsung reported significant earnings growth for the half-year ending June 2026, with sales more than doubling and net income increasing substantially compared to the previous year. In the meantime, Nemetschek (XTRA:NEM) lagged, down 13.7% to finish the session at €58.00. The company reported a year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue and net income three days ago, with revenue reaching EUR 332.12 million and net income at EUR 66.04 million.

Nemetschek is rapidly boosting growth by switching to SaaS and AI integration. Discover the full story behind this strategic transformation now.

As a follow-up, revisit our Market Insights article on Cloud AI, where we explored how open-source models like Moonshot's Kimi K3 are reshaping investment strategies by focusing on the "picks and shovels" of AI.

Best Cloud AI Stocks

• Microsoft (NasdaqGS:MSFT) ended the day at $451.10 up 15.5%. Three days ago, Microsoft reported strong earnings growth, with notable revenue and net income increases compared to the previous year.
• Alphabet (NasdaqGS:GOOGL) finished trading at $333.66 down 0.9%. This week, the company launched Gemini Robotics ER 2, a major upgrade for robotic task orchestration and multi-robot collaboration.
• ServiceNow (NYSE:NOW) finished trading at $110.07 down 4.9%. BitRaser recently integrated with the company to streamline IT asset disposal, enhancing governance, compliance, and efficiency, 1 day prior.

Taking Advantage

• Reveal the 149 hidden gems, such as Jabil, Oracle Corporation Japan and Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, among our Cloud AI Stocks screener with a single click here.
• Searching for a Fresh Perspective? The best AI stocks today may lie beyond giants like Nvidia and Microsoft. Find the next big opportunity with these 16 smaller AI-focused companies with strong growth potential through early-stage innovation in machine learning, automation, and data intelligence that could fund your retirement.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Sources:

• Simply Wall St
• "One year in, BCC Research's AI vertical maps a $2.5 trillion market from infrastructure to industry impact" from BCC Research LLC on GlobeNewswire (published 29 July 2026)

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