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Investors Demand AI Returns: Big Tech Faces Scrutiny
29 Jan
Summary
- Investors reward Big Tech for spending if it fuels solid growth.
- Microsoft's shares dropped after its Azure growth slightly missed expectations.
- Tesla plans to double its AI and robotics spending this year to $20 billion.

Investors are scrutinizing Big Tech's record spending on artificial intelligence, differentiating between companies demonstrating solid growth and those facing potential backlash. Meta Platforms reported a significant 24% revenue increase in the December quarter, attributing gains to AI-enhanced ad targeting and forecasting accelerated growth.
Microsoft, however, saw its Azure cloud business growth only slightly exceed expectations. Concerns were raised about its substantial investment in OpenAI, with the company's stock falling after earnings. Microsoft's finance chief indicated that internal AI development efforts constrained Azure's growth.
Tesla is set to more than double its capital expenditure this year, projecting over $20 billion towards AI, robotics, and autonomous vehicles. This aggressive pivot underscores the growing divide between ambitious AI development goals and investor patience for demonstrable financial returns.



