[AWS CFO: AI Spending is Sustainable, Server Investment Payback Period Less Than Three Years] Golden Finance reported on October 17, citing Axios, that Amazon (AMZN.O) Web Services (AWS) Chief Financial Officer John Felton stated that spending on AI infrastructure and services is sustainable because such investments are driving substantial innovation. Felton noted that AWS's AI capital expenditures are yielding returns, and businesses should view AI as a tool to enhance productivity rather than merely a means to cut costs. Felton also revealed that as of the second quarter, AWS's backlog of orders was close to $500 billion, with customers ranging from large enterprises and AI labs to small and medium-sized businesses. He expressed confidence in the company's capital expenditure plans, emphasizing: "The demand is real." Additionally, he stated that the payback period for AWS's AI server investments is less than three years. Regarding whether AI investments can continue to generate returns, Felton mentioned that internal AWS data shows a "roughly linear relationship" between token usage and productivity improvements. AWS is currently achieving "significant investment returns and productivity gains" and plans to further expand related investments.