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January 2, 2026
Senior Consultant Conor Finnegan has contributed to a 2026 FDI trends piece for Investment Monitor, examining whether today's surge in AI-related investment can be sustained in an increasingly fragmented and risk-aware global economy.
Conor's contribution explores the tension between continued capital flows into industries of the future and the growing pressure points surrounding AI-driven FDI — including high capital requirements, power constraints, and uncertainty over near-term monetization. He argues that whether the current trajectory results in a correction or a recalibration, AI investment will have significant implications for global FDI flows in 2026 and beyond.
The piece also addresses the broader global FDI environment, noting that — much as in 2025 — geopolitical tensions, rising trade barriers, and ongoing supply chain reconfiguration are likely to remain defining forces this year. While these dynamics can generate sizeable inflows into selected markets, including the US, parts of Europe, and emerging hubs benefiting from friendshoring trends, their net effect is more likely to be a reallocation of investment than an overall expansion of global flows.
The full article includes additional guest contributions exploring other forces shaping this year's investment landscape, from data sovereignty and shifting manufacturing geographies to increasingly selective, policy-driven FDI decisions.
Read the full piece on the Investment Monitor website.
