Venture capital investment in artificial intelligence startups reached record levels in the first half of 2026, according to a new report from Infomoney.
The data underscores the sector's continued dominance in private markets, with AI firms capturing the majority of available capital as investors double down on the technology's long-term potential.
Global mergers and acquisitions are also on pace to reach $4 trillion in deal value this year, marking the most active period for corporate consolidation since 2021.
The surge in AI funding coincides with broader trends in global corporate finance.
US technology companies are increasingly tapping international bond markets to fund their own AI expansion, reshaping the global corporate debt landscape as spending on chips and cloud infrastructure accelerates.
This dual flow of capital—private equity into startups and public debt into incumbents—highlights the scale of the industry's build-out.
Global mergers and acquisitions are also on pace to reach $4 trillion in deal value this year, marking the most active period for corporate consolidation since 2021.