Venture capitalists anticipate that enterprises will increase their spending on artificial intelligence in 2026, but will concentrate their investments with fewer vendors. A recent TechCrunch survey of 24 enterprise-focused VCs revealed that a majority predict enterprises will allocate larger budgets to AI in 2026, focusing on a narrower selection of contracts.

The shift indicates a move away from the experimental phase of AI adoption, where companies tested various tools to determine their optimal AI strategy. Andrew Ferguson, a vice president at Databricks Ventures, believes 2026 will mark a period of consolidation as enterprises identify and invest in leading AI solutions. Currently, many enterprises are evaluating multiple tools for similar applications, leading to a proliferation of startups targeting specific business functions. Ferguson noted that it is often difficult to differentiate between these offerings, even during proof-of-concept trials.

As enterprises observe tangible results from AI deployments, they are expected to reduce their experimentation budgets, streamline overlapping tools, and reinvest the savings into proven AI technologies. This transition reflects a maturing understanding of AI's capabilities and a desire to maximize returns on investment.

Rob Biederman, a managing partner at Asymmetric Capital Partners, echoed this sentiment. The anticipated consolidation suggests that enterprises are seeking to scale successful AI implementations across their organizations, rather than continuing to explore a wide range of unproven solutions. This approach aligns with a broader trend of enterprises prioritizing efficiency and demonstrable value in their technology investments. The focus will likely be on platforms that offer comprehensive solutions and can be integrated seamlessly into existing workflows.