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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWorldwide AI investment rose from $36 billion in 2020 to $77.5 billion in 2021, a 115% year-over-year increase described as the largest in at least 20 years. Those are historical figures reported by Tortoise Intelligence in December 2021—not a current estimate of AI investment.
What the report found
Tortoise Intelligence’s “AI Boom Time,” published December 2, 2021, reported worldwide AI investment of $77.5 billion for 2021, compared with $36 billion in 2020. VentureBeat’s December 6, 2021 summary described the change as 115% growth and the largest year-over-year rise in at least two decades: VentureBeat’s report.
The figures describe the period covered by the report. They should not be read as today’s annual investment total or as a forecast. Tortoise’s reported findings are presented here as published; the underlying dataset has not been independently recalculated.
Where the 2021 funding went
By company location
US-based companies received $51 billion in AI venture funding in 2021, which Tortoise said represented two-thirds of the global total. Tortoise ranked the United States first, China second, and the United Kingdom third in its index. The funding figure is about venture funding to companies based in the US; it is not the same as a measure of all AI activity or national readiness.
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By sector
Tortoise reported that transport accounted for 31% of AI funding, health-related AI for 10%, fintech for 6%, and privacy and security for 4%. These reported shares show that investment was concentrated unevenly across application areas.
By funding relative to population
Israel recorded $325,000 in AI-focused company funding per million people, according to Tortoise. This is a population-adjusted funding figure, not a comparison of total national investment.
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What the Global AI Index measures
The investment numbers were one part of Tortoise’s fourth Global AI Index, which ranked 62 countries using more than 120 indicators. The index assessed national AI development capacity and preparedness across areas that included investment, talent, research, supercomputing capability, and government strategy. Tortoise described the United States, China, and the UK as its top three overall in the 2021 index.
That distinction matters: attracting a large share of venture funding does not by itself establish that a country leads across every dimension of AI preparedness. The index combines investment with other signals, including research capacity, talent, computing infrastructure, and public strategy.
Why investment may have accelerated
In the VentureBeat summary, Michael Chui, partner at the McKinsey Global Institute, linked the surge to pandemic-driven digital adoption: “A sudden, urgent need for digital collaborative spaces and remote working tools during the pandemic forced business leaders to understand the vital need for digitisation, says Michael Chui, partner at the McKinsey Global Institute. This includes AI and automation.” The statement offers context for the period, rather than proving that any single cause explains the full increase.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What else changed in national AI strategy
Tortoise said eight additional countries had officially released government AI strategies since the previous report: Slovenia, Turkey, Ireland, Egypt, Malaysia, Brazil, Vietnam, and Chile. These strategies were among the kinds of readiness signals tracked by the index; their publication does not establish how much funding they attracted.
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