United States, China and South Korea Lead Global AI Investment Race

The global race to fund artificial‑intelligence infrastructure is accelerating. Stanford University estimates total AI‑related spending could reach between $900 billion and $1.3 trillion by 2025. The United States leads with $285.9 billion invested in 2025 and plans to double spending in key sectors, while its 5,400 domestic data centres outpace any other nation. A flagship project called “Stargate” is expected to attract $500 billion by 2029.

China follows with a five‑year plan (2026‑2030) targeting $295 billion, operating 450 data centres and relying on 80 % locally sourced equipment. South Korea is committing $800 billion over ten years, leveraging its 50 % share of the global semiconductor market and announcing four new factories worth $520 billion, plus $356 billion for AI‑specific data centres.

European efforts focus on sovereignty: France positions itself as a leading model creator, attracting $12‑$35 billion of foreign AI investment and supporting startups such as MistralAI. The United Kingdom secured $4.5 billion of private AI funding in 2025, while Germany plans $10‑$15 billion for AI and data‑centre expansion. Japan’s SoftBank has pledged $51 billion for data‑centre construction in northern France.