US AI Investment Hits $1.5 Trillion Annualized Rate, Fueling GDP Growth

In the second quarter of 2026, US private business investment in AI-related categories jumped by $300 billion from a year earlier, hitting a record $1.5 trillion annualized rate. That represents a 25% increase year-over-year.

The growth was led by spending on computers and peripheral equipment, followed by communication equipment, software, and data centers. Over the past two years, the metric has climbed $500 billion, or 50%, with investment in computers and peripheral equipment more than doubling in that span.

Direct AI investment now accounts for between 25% and 33% of recent US GDP growth, underscoring its role as a primary economic driver.