Santander's AI Generates 194 Million Euros in Value
Major banks and tech firms report AI is now contributing to revenue, cost savings, and profitability.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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Santander said its AI initiatives generated 194 million euros in business value in the first nine months of 2026. Novartis and Standard Chartered also reported AI contributing to revenue, costs, or profitability in third-quarter results.
Why it matters
Companies are increasing AI investment to boost efficiency and profitability, and early quarterly results are beginning to show measurable financial returns. The figures suggest AI is moving from experimental projects into everyday business operations across banking, pharmaceuticals and technology.
Santander reported 194 million euros ($216 million) in AI business value over nine months, while corporate AI investment reached $581.7 billion in 2025, up 130%. Novartis did not disclose how much of its $6.04 billion third-quarter core operating income came from AI.
The players
Santander
Santander is a Spanish multinational banking group that has been integrating AI across its operations.
Novartis
Novartis is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel.
Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered is a British multinational bank with major operations across Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Meta
Meta Platforms is an American technology company that owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
The details
Santander said AI is being embedded across all of its bank processes, reducing low-value tasks so employees can focus on higher-value work. Standard Chartered said it deployed AI tools to improve core processes and scale efficiently.
Timeline
- First nine months of 2026: Santander's AI initiatives generate 194 million euros in business value.
- Third quarter 2026: Novartis, Standard Chartered, Carlsberg and Google Cloud report quarterly results.
- October 21, 2026: Meta reports earnings with AI-driven advertising revenue gains.
The Tech Race
Corporate AI investment rose 130% to $581.7 billion in 2025, and 2026 quarterly results now show early returns on that spending. Hyperscalers Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta are expected to spend a combined $700 billion on AI infrastructure this year.
For consumers, AI-driven efficiency gains at banks and tech platforms may show up in service changes and advertising products. Businesses adopting similar tools may see productivity shifts in routine internal tasks.
The takeaway
Companies are beginning to report measurable AI returns, but most have not separated AI's contribution from other business drivers. Readers should watch whether future quarterly reports quantify those gains.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our Artificial Intelligence section.
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