EU trails US in AI investment race

Oxford Economics data cited by the Financial Times shows the EU trailing the United States in AI-related investment, with business spending diverging sharply across the Atlantic. Business investment in the United States is expected to grow by 40% in real terms from 2021 to the end of 2027, compared with only 12% in the eurozone.

Investment in AI equipment and infrastructure has been one of the main drivers of American growth. Germany is expected to see business investment remain virtually unchanged over the same period, underscoring the uneven pace within Europe.

Europe has barely narrowed the investment gap with the United States since former Italian President Mario Draghi published his EU competitiveness report in September 2024. The productivity divide is also visible: GDP per hour worked in the United States increased by $14 in 2018-2025, while Europe recorded an increase of only $2.