Amid the fervor of artificial intelligence investment, the hidden debt of the five major U.S. tech giants has also risen sharply. According to a research report by Nikkei, the hidden debt of these companies has increased eightfold over the past four years, reaching a staggering $1.65 trillion, far exceeding their actual debt levels.

Where does this hidden debt come from? It mainly stems from large expenditures on data center leases and graphics processing unit (GPU) supply contracts. For example, Meta's (formerly Facebook) hidden debt reaches $420 billion, nearly three times its disclosed debt. This situation makes it more difficult for investors to assess the financial health of these tech companies.

The surge in hidden debt not only affects the transparency of company finances but also poses potential risks to investors. Since these debts are often not fully disclosed, investors find it difficult to fully understand a company's liabilities when considering long-term investments, which may lead to wrong decisions. The Nikkei study reminds investors to pay special attention to these "black holes" hidden behind financial statements.

This phenomenon is closely related to the current AI arms race. Major tech companies are increasing their investments in artificial intelligence, but the rapid expansion comes with growing debt pressure. For investors betting on the long-term growth of AI, understanding the true nature of these hidden debts is key to reducing investment risks.

As the technology industry develops rapidly, investors and analysts need to be more aware of these potential financial hazards in order to make more informed investment decisions. The huge scale of hidden debt may have a deep impact on the market in the future.