Banks are pulling back as AI's massive debt pile disconnects from economic reality

Wall Street appears to be hitting its limit on AI, and financiers are starting to say the quiet part out loud: All of this AI spending doesn't look like it can pay off, at least not for everyone. Why it matters: The gap between what it costs to build AI infrastructure and what companies are actually paying to use it is widening. Wall Street's anxiety is surging as the debt piling up to fund data centers and chips looks increasingly disconnected from economic reality. Driving the news: A massive gap is opening up between AI infrastructure spending and expected returns. While AI providers are projected to spend $7 trillion on infrastructure through 2030, research from Gartner forecasts they will generate no more than $3.6 trillion in related revenue over that same period. More than $4 trillion in AI infrastructure spending could be at risk of write-downs by the end of 2032 if companies maintain their current investment pace. Gartner also predicts that more than 80% of specialized AI clou