From empowering artists to unleash their creativity to automating the energy needs of entire cities, artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform nearly every facet of modern life. As a result, countries around the world are racing to embrace AI – but which ones are leading the charge?
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Ranked: Artificial Intelligence Startups, by Country
From DALL-E helping artists bring their visions to life, to AI-driven solutions powering the energy needs of major cities, artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to revolutionize many aspects of modern society.
However, this potential would remain untapped without the innovation and drive of AI startups across the globe.
“The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race….It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.” — Stephen Hawking told the BBC
In this graphic, the first installment of the three-part Digital Evolution series sponsored by Global X ETFs, we explore the dynamic landscape of AI investment. We look closer at which countries are leading the charge regarding the number of AI startups receiving private investment of over $1.5 million.
The AI Race
The United States and China continue to lead the world in AI investment. The U.S. has maintained its dominance since 2013, with nearly $250 billion invested across 4,643 AI companies. However, the global AI investment landscape is rapidly expanding.
In 2022 alone, 524 new AI startups were founded in the U.S., attracting $47 billion in private funding. Meanwhile, China posted the highest average corporate investment in AI startups that year, with its 160 newly founded AI companies receiving an impressive average of $71 million each.
Based on data from the AI Index 2023 Annual Report, here are the top 10 countries currently leading the AI investment race:
| Country | Number of AI Startups (2013-2022) | Private Investment (2013-2022) |
|---|---|---|
#1 United States  |
4643 | $249B |
#2 China  |
1337 | $95B |
#3 United Kingdom  |
630 | $18B |
#4 Israel  |
402 | $11B |
#5 Canada  |
341 | $9B |
#6 France  |
338 | $7B |
#7 India  |
296 | $8B |
#8 Japan  |
294 | $4B |
#9 Germany  |
245 | $7B |
#10 Singapore  |
165 | $5B |
Investment Across Industries
In 2022, AI investment spanned multiple sectors worldwide, reflecting its diverse potential to drive innovation across industries:
Healthcare
Leading the way, the healthcare sector attracted $6.1 billion in AI investment. With a wide range of applications—from diagnostics to personalized treatment—AI is transforming the way healthcare is delivered globally.
Data Management, Processing, and the Cloud
AI-powered solutions in data management, processing, and cloud services secured $5.9 billion in investment. These technologies are helping organizations streamline operations, manage vast datasets, and enhance decision-making.
Fintech
AI’s ability to analyze complex financial data, identify patterns, and automate processes has made it a key area for investment. In 2022, over $5.5 billion was funneled into AI fintech startups, signaling the growing role of AI in the financial services industry.
Cybersecurity and Data Protection
The cybersecurity and data protection sectors attracted $5.4 billion in investment, highlighting AI’s increasing role in bolstering security measures, detecting threats, and mitigating risks across digital platforms.
Retail
The retail sector also saw significant AI investment, with $4.2 billion flowing into solutions designed to enhance marketing, customer service, and sales. Generative AI, in particular, is proving highly effective in personalizing customer experiences.
Investing in AI Today
By strategically investing in AI-driven sectors, investors have the opportunity to accelerate AI innovation and adoption across industries. However, the sheer volume of capital flowing into AI is just the beginning. The true evolution of AI will unfold as these technologies are increasingly integrated into the fabric of businesses and society.
In part two of the Digital Evolution series, we’ll dive into AI’s corporate adoption and explore how AI is being used by the global workforce to drive productivity and innovation.
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