US venture capital investment is increasingly going to AI

About half of all US VC investment went to AI companies last quarter.

Watch AI eat the VC world in one chart

Nearly half of US venture capital investment went to AI companies last quarter

7/17/24 1:11PM

The share of artificial intelligence venture capital investments in the US has tripled in the last few years, according to data from PitchBook’s Venture Monitor Report that published last week. At $27 billion last quarter, investment in AI and machine learning startups made up nearly half of all investment, up from 15% in 2017.

That’s as venture capital investment overall, which peaked in 2021, has been on the decline in recent years.

But this year, thanks in part to interest in AI and the general hype around the technology, VC spending might get out of its funk. Overall spending is on pace to reach $187 billion in the US in 2024, up about 12 percent from last year.

Max Knoblauch2/17/26

Sony is reportedly considering pushing the PlayStation 6 to 2028 or 2029 as AI RAM demand squeezes consumer electronics

AI’s ongoing need for more memory chips, which some are referring to as “RAMmageddon,” is reportedly shifting Sony’s plans for its next PlayStation console.

According to reporting by Bloomberg, the company is weighing a delay of the PS6 to 2028 or 2029 — a pivot from the company’s typical six- to seven-year console life cycle.

Memory costs could also result in Nintendo hiking the price of the Switch 2, per the report.

The report is part of a larger trend of AI demand impacting consumer electronics, including gaming equipment. Earlier this month, reports said that Nvidia will not release a new gaming graphics chip this year — a first. Steam owner Valve delayed its forthcoming Steam Machine console, and its popular Steam Deck handheld is currently unavailable for purchase in the US. Per Valve’s website: “Steam Deck OLED may be out-of-stock intermittently in some regions due to memory and storage shortages.”

Amid the AI memory squeeze, gaming stocks have also experienced major recent sell-offs following the release of Google’s AI interactive world-generation tool, Project Genie.

Rampant AI Demand for Memory Is Fueling a Growing Chip Crisis

Memory costs could also result in Nintendo hiking the price of the Switch 2, per the report.

Amid the AI memory squeeze, gaming stocks have also experienced major recent sell-offs following the release of Google’s AI interactive world-generation tool, Project Genie.

Hyunsoo Rim

REMOTE. CONTROL.

2/17/26

Younger companies and leaders embrace more remote work, new study finds

Firms founded in the past decade have nearly twice the WFH rates of those started before 1990.

Funny 1980s Computer man at desk with coffee

Video game experts say Google’s Project Genie isn’t an industry killer. Investors don’t seem convinced.

Analysts and company execs are trying to dispel fears around AI’s impact on gaming, but Wall Street is still wary.

Max Knoblauch2/17/26

Rivian just had its best day ever on the stock market, after more than 4 years of pain

The EV maker’s software division helped power a strong Q4, as industry giants pump the brakes on their electric ambitions.

Claire Yubin Oh, David Crowther2/16/26

Tom Jones, David Crowther

Baconator, Sales evader

2/16/26

Wendy’s sales got crushed during the pandemic — last quarter was even worse

The chain is planning to close as many as 6% of its locations in the first half of 2026.

Wendy's Announces Plans To Sell Over 600 Of Its Restaurants

Watch AI eat the VC world in one chart

More Business

Sony is reportedly considering pushing the PlayStation 6 to 2028 or 2029 as AI RAM demand squeezes consumer electronics

Rampant AI Demand for Memory Is Fueling a Growing Chip Crisis

Video game experts say Google’s Project Genie isn’t an industry killer. Investors don’t seem convinced.

Rivian just had its best day ever on the stock market, after more than 4 years of pain

Latest Stories