Global AI Startup Funding Surges Past $70 Billion Amid Market Downturn

Artificial intelligence continues to be a major driver of innovation and investment globally, with experts like Andrew Ng advocating for a sandbox-first approach in enterprise AI development to balance innovation with safety and observability. Venture capital investment in AI startups has surged dramatically, reaching over $100 billion last year and maintaining strong momentum into 2025, particularly in North America where 70% of VC funding flows into AI ventures. Despite the hype, some analysts caution that genuine AI investments may not always match company announcements, calling for careful scrutiny by investors. AI and big data funds have experienced explosive growth worldwide, with global assets surpassing $30 billion, fueled by breakthroughs like ChatGPT and rising interest from markets including China and Europe. The AI ecosystem spans from mega-cap tech giants to infrastructure providers essential for AI data centers, reflecting the broad and transformative nature of AI technologies. In parallel, legal tech innovations are advancing with privacy-first data collection tools that comply with regulations like GDPR, highlighting AI's expanding role across different sectors.