Charted: U.S. vs. EU 10 Years of AI Investment
The Decoding the AI Economy Series unpacks key players, diverse markets, and history of AI investments in the U.S. and Europe.
Charted: U.S. vs. EU. 10 Years of AI Investment
Key Takeaways
- U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) companies are the global leaders, backed by nearly $500 billion in private investment since 2013.
- U.S. firms have attracted over six times more private capital than those in Europe, creating an unmatched environment for AI innovation.
- Between 2013 and 2023, U.S. and European AI companies have attracted nearly $562 billion in funding.
AI has received incredible investment over the last 10 years. Its potential to transform nearly every aspect of modern life has made it the most economically compelling opportunity since the internet’s earliest days.
But just how much investment have U.S. AI companies attracted versus European companies in the last decade?
In this third and final graphic in the Decoding the AI Economy series, Visual Capitalist and ACT | The App Association joined forces to explore the history of AI investment.
Who Has Attracted More AI Investment?
Our World in Data reports that between 2013 and 2023, AI companies in the U.S., the EU, and the UK have attracted an incredible $562 billion in funding.
Although AI captured mainstream attention with the launch of ChatGPT a couple of years ago, investment in the U.S. and Europe has been rising steadily for more than a decade, fueled by the technology’s proven and expanding real-world value.
The table below breaks down this investment by year:
| Year | U.S. | EU & UK |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $4.2B | $0.6B |
| 2014 | $8B | $1.4B |
| 2015 | $10.6B | $0.9B |
| 2016 | $11.5B | $1.3B |
| 2017 | $20.2B | $3.4B |
| 2018 | $28.4B | $3.6B |
| 2019 | $45.8B | $7.8B |
| 2020 | $57.6B | $8.5B |
| 2021 | $120.4B | $17.5B |
| 2022 | $80.7B | $16.5B |
| 2023 | $98.7B | $14.2B |
| Total | $486.1B | $75.7B |
While both the U.S. and Europe have attracted significant investment in AI, the U.S. stands head and shoulders above Europe regarding total investment–U.S. firms have attracted six times more investment than their European counterparts.
Investment and Development
The U.S. is the clear global leader in AI, fueled by a policy environment that rewards risk-taking and scaling smartly. Strategic investment has sparked a wave of innovation.
Are you interested in learning more about the impact of AI?
The App Association just released its comprehensive whitepaper examining how premature or overbroad antitrust action could jeopardize AI innovation and outlining a policy approach better aligned with the realities of emerging technology.
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