Santander, Novartis and Standard Chartered say AI is already adding revenue, cutting costs and boosting profitability in Q3 2026.

Companies that have poured billions into artificial‑intelligence projects are beginning to attach concrete numbers to the benefits. In the latest earnings season, Santander, Novartis and Standard Chartered highlighted AI‑driven revenue lifts, cost savings and stronger operating leverage, signalling a shift from hype to measurable impact.

Banking and finance sees AI‑generated business value

• Santander reported €194 million (about $216 million) of business value from AI in the first nine months of 2026, citing reduced low‑value tasks and higher‑value client work.
• The bank’s operating income grew 14% year‑on‑year at constant currency, with CFO Manus Costello linking part of the top‑line growth and operating leverage to AI tools that improve core processes.
• AI is being embedded across the bank’s operations, helping managers deepen customer relationships and scale services efficiently.

Pharma and tech firms quantify AI contribution

• Novartis posted a Q3 core operating income of $6.04 billion, up 10% YoY, and CEO Vas Narasimhan said AI is the first technology to tangibly improve the company’s P&L.
• Meta confirmed that its AI investments are adding substantial incremental advertising revenue, while Alphabet said Google Cloud revenue more than doubled in the quarter.
• The Stanford HAI 2026 AI Index notes corporate AI spending hit $581.7 billion in 2025, a 130% jump from the prior year, underscoring the rapid scaling of AI across sectors.

What traders are watching next

• Further guidance from banks on AI‑related cost efficiencies, especially in upcoming Q4 earnings of European lenders.
• Updates from tech giants on AI‑driven cloud revenue, as Microsoft, Amazon and Google plan to spend $700 billion on AI infrastructure this year.
• Any new AI‑impact disclosures from consumer‑goods firms such as Carlsberg, which noted internal process gains but no large‑scale profit boost yet.

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This article is compiled from international market news for information only. It is not investment advice.