Enterprises have been experimenting with AI tools for a few years. Investors predict they will start to pick winners in 2026.

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Venture capitalists predict that in 2026, enterprises will shift from experimenting with multiple AI tools to consolidating their spending on fewer, proven vendors. After years of testing various solutions, companies are expected to increase overall AI budgets while cutting overlapping tools and concentrating investments in products that deliver measurable results. VCs anticipate spending will focus on three areas: data foundations, model optimization, and AI safety/governance tools. This consolidation may create challenges for AI startups, particularly those offering products similar to large enterprise suppliers, while companies with proprietary data or vertical solutions are more likely to thrive.

VCs predict enterprises will spend more on AI in 2026 — through fewer vendors