The US accounts for 86% of artificial intelligence funding.

Between February and May 2025, North America captured 86,2% of global funding in artificial intelligence, according to data from PitchBook. The figure, which amounts to $69.700 billion, is particularly noteworthy in a political context marked by budget cuts in science and research by the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Europe is trying to close the gap with new rounds and public funds, although it has not yet reached large investments. The contrast between record private capital and threatened public funding reveals a paradox in global technological leadership.

The United States concentrates capital

Despite a complex political environment, North America has consolidated its absolute dominance in artificial intelligence funding, accounting for 86,2% of the global total between February and May 2025This figure equates to nearly $70.000 billion invested in AI and machine learning startups, confirming an unprecedented pace of investment.

According to data tracker PitchBook, this level of funding has been driven by mega-rounds from companies like OpenAI, but also by sustained investment from US venture capital funds. Although the political context suggests uncertainty—especially with proposed cuts to science by the federal government— Private investors do not seem to share this skepticism. and keep the pressure on to lead the next technological frontier.

OpenAI breaks all records

The best example of this investment fever is OpenAI, which closed a historic $40.000 billion round in March 2025, led by SoftBank. It's the largest private funding round in the history of the tech sector, valuing the company at $300.000 billion post-money. Only SpaceX and ByteDance rank higher among private companies.

The capital will be allocated to strategic projects such as Stargate—a collaboration with Oracle and SoftBank to scale computing infrastructure—to improve ChatGPT, which already has more than 500 million weekly users, and to advance artificial general intelligence (AGI). Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, stated that this investment will allow us to “bring useful AI into everyday life.”Although part of the deal depends on OpenAI formally becoming a for-profit company before the end of the year, the scale of the transaction marks a turning point in the global technology race.

Public cuts, private abundance

In parallel to the private equity boom, the Trump administration has presented a 2026 budget that contemplates drastic cuts to public scientific funding, drawing strong criticism from the research community. Although the government claims it will maintain investment in AI and quantum science in "key agencies," 37% cuts to the NIH and more than 50% to the NSF are proposed, two pillars of the American research ecosystem.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) warned that these cuts “would end the global scientific leadership of the United States” and would jeopardize the country's future health, safety, and prosperity. Although some funding has been temporarily blocked by a judge following lawsuits from 22 states, uncertainty about the future of public funding could create a dangerous dependence on private capital for basic research.

Who leads innovation?

This paradox—record private funding coexisting with institutional decline—raises structural questions: Can a nation lead the technological future with a weakened public science? What kind of innovation is prioritized when the market dictates the pace? The concentration of capital in a few giant companies, such as OpenAI, Microsoft, or Anthropic, could consolidate an artificial intelligence oligopoly, limiting the diversity of approaches and actors on the global scene.

Europe tries to close the gap

Europe has seen positive signs so far in 2025, with €4.600 billion invested in AI startups in the first quarter alone, 55% more than in the same period in 2024. In fact, for the first time, the AI ​​sector has surpassed SaaS in transaction value within the European ecosystem.

However, Europe's share of global funding has fallen from 18% to 12%, largely due to the overwhelming weight of OpenAI's round. The continent has yet to generate "mega-rounds" exceeding €1.000 billion and continues to rely on US funding to close the largest deals. This gap in scale and financial autonomy remains Europe's major obstacle.

Public initiatives and dedicated funds

Faced with this reality, The European Union is strengthening its AI ecosystem through programs such as Horizon Europe and the EIC Accelerator., which offer grants of up to €5 million and €2,5 million, respectively. In addition, private initiatives such as Cathay Innovation's $1.000 billion fund—the largest dedicated exclusively to AI from the EU—seek to promote vertical solutions with industrial impact.

These tools, although valuable, They do not match the firepower of the American giantsEurope has the talent, infrastructure, and ethical vision, but it needs to consolidate an investment network capable of supporting and scaling its emerging leaders if it wants to have real influence in the future governance of AI.

When capital takes control

The race for artificial intelligence is not only scientific or technological, but also geopolitical and financial. The gap between North America and the rest of the world is not measured only in investment, but in future influence. If artificial intelligence defines productivity, security, and infrastructure for the coming decades, those who fund it today will be writing the rules for tomorrow.

But relying exclusively on the market to drive innovation It poses profound risks: concentration, lack of transparency, and priorities guided by immediate economic return. Weakening public research—as proposed cuts in the US warn—could jeopardize advances that are not commercially profitable but are crucial to the common good.

The real challenge of AI will not just be building it, but ensuring it serves everyone. And that will require both capital and political vision. Because in the new era of artificial intelligence, it's not enough to invest more: we must invest better.