Companies promised AI gains— here's how the payoff showed up in earnings

The dollar steadied on Wednesday after the United States launched strikes against Iran, while investors awaited key U.S. inflation data.Skaman306 | Moment | Getty ImagesSome companies are beginning to report financial benefits from artificial intelligence investments, as interest in the technology shifts from hype to measurable returns in the latest quarter.Corporate AI investment has surged as companies look to boost efficiency and become more profitable, reaching $581.7 billion in 2025, up 130% from the previous year, according to the Stanford HAI 2026 AI Index report.As CEOs tout the tech's benefits and hyperscalers like Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta are expected to spend $700 billion combined this year on its infrastructure, investors are looking for measurable gains. Now, with third-quarter earnings season underway, some companies are beginning to put numbers around those benefits.Santander puts a number on AI gainsSpanish banking giant Santander said Wednesday that it saw AI initiatives generate 194 million euros ($216 million) in business value in the first nine months of 2026. Santander Chief Financial Officer José García Cantera told CNBC that AI is helping the bank r...