The Invisible Physical Economy and Investment Dimension of Artificial Intelligence
The artificial intelligence revolution is transforming beyond software into a physical process requiring data centers, electricity, copper, chips, and trillions of dollars in capital.
Behind the artificial intelligence revolution lie not only algorithms and software, but a physical economy requiring data centers, electricity consumption, critical commodities, semiconductor chips, and massive capital investments.
The Reality of Artificial Intelligence and the Physical Economy
Viewing artificial intelligence solely as a technological revolution is insufficient; in the upcoming period, this field is also emerging as a story of energy, commodities, industry, and capital allocation.
Energy and Electricity Consumption
According to data from the International Energy Agency, global electricity consumption by data centers is expected to reach approximately 945 TWh by 2030.
Copper and Semiconductor Supply
According to a study published by S&P Global, annual copper demand associated with data centers is projected to rise to 2.5 million tons in the future.
Massive Capital and Financial Dimension
While capital expenditures by the five major tech companies exceeded $400 billion in 2025, their total future lease commitments reached approximately $1.09 trillion.
Turkey's Strategic Artificial Intelligence Steps
In Turkey, within the framework of the HIT-30 program, support budgets amounting to billions of dollars are envisioned for chip, data center, and artificial intelligence programs.