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Inference Costs Fell 90% in 18 Months

The cost of running AI models in production dropped faster than anyone projected. The startups that bet on expensive inference are now repricing everything.

DropThe Data Desk6 min

By the Numbers

$320B

Global AI infrastructure spend (2026)

Gartner

1,247

AI models released in 2026 (so far)

Epoch AI

$42.7B

Total AI startup funding (Q1 2026)

PitchBook

78

Countries with national AI strategies

Creative AI

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