AI helps drive a surge in global corporate dealmaking

In short: Companies are buying other companies at a fast pace again, and many of the biggest deals are tied to artificial intelligence.

What's going on

Global dealmaking, meaning mergers and acquisitions (when one company buys another), has surged in 2025 and is carrying into 2026. One report puts global deal value at about $2.6 trillion year to date over the first seven months, the strongest start in a decade.

Several outlets say artificial intelligence, or AI (software that can write, see, or predict by learning from data), is a major reason. Big technology and infrastructure spending has helped push deal totals higher. Bloomberg also reported that technology dealmaking hit a $1 trillion record in 2025 as companies chased AI-related growth.

In the US, AI-focused dealmaking is also climbing. CFO Dive, citing 451 Research, said US AI-focused M&A reached $107.9 billion last year. It also reported more than 600 AI-related deals announced in 2025, and that over 20% of mega-deals were AI-driven during the January to November period.

What to watch

This rush may not last at the same speed. CNBC reported that available capital, meaning money that can be borrowed or raised for deals, is getting tighter, which can force executives to be pickier. Other indicators show sentiment improving but still cautious, and some analysts have questioned whether AI spending will pay back enough to justify today’s prices. Think of it like a shopping spree that depends on both the size of your credit line and whether what you bought actually helps you earn more later.

Source: NYTimes