The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday edition that Alphabet's first-ever cash burn has jolted investors awaiting more Big Tech results next week as soaring AI spending strains one of the world's most profitable companies. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says that the Google parent burned $5.9-billion in the second quarter, even as the cloud unit that rents out AI computing power notched 82-per-cent growth (all figures U.S.). With Alphabet now expected to spend $15-billion more in 2026 and predicting another increase next year, the outlays behind the cash burn will only rise. The cash hit is one of the clearest signs of how AI is reshaping Big Tech. Once prized for fat margins and cash gushers that could easily finance new bets, the group is now leaning on debt and share sales to bankroll spending, which is set to top $700-billion this year as their cash flows fall short. Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Amazon report results next week. Shares of all three companies were down between 2 and 4.5 per cent on Thursday; Alphabet led the slide at 6.8 per cent. The drop reflects investor concerns that the other tech giants will likely follow Alphabet by raising spending forecasts despite payoffs lagging the pace of outlays.