Riyadh — October 30, 2025:
Nearly 87% of global investors are preparing to increase their AI investments in the Global South over the next two years, with India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East identified as the key beneficiaries, according to a new report by the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute in collaboration with Accenture.
AI Capital Flow Shifts Southward
The report, titled “Rebalancing Intelligence: How the Next Wave of AI Investment is Set to Flow South”, was unveiled at FII9 in Riyadh. It surveyed 250 C-suite leaders from private equity, venture capital, and corporate venture units across 13 countries in the Global North, supplemented by 15 in-depth interviews with major investors and sovereign fund executives.
Despite representing half the world’s population and a quarter of global GDP growth, the Global South currently attracts only 28% of AI-related FDI, a fraction of the $548 billion invested worldwide in the past two years. The report notes a striking imbalance — with just nine AI unicorns in the Global South compared to 305 in the North.
AI at the Center of FII9
This year’s FII9 placed AI at the heart of its agenda, with over a third of sessions dedicated to its impact on industries, investment, and governance. The event gathered tech leaders, sovereign investors, and policymakers to address how the next wave of AI capital can foster inclusive global growth.
“OpenAI’s $1 trillion chip investment shows the scale of transformation ahead,” said Richard Attias, CEO of FII Institute. “We must ensure this wave lifts all boats. Bridging the AI investment divide is not just economic — it’s a moral imperative.”
A Call for Inclusive Innovation
Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO of Accenture, emphasized that AI “is much more than a technology — it’s a catalyst for reinvention.” She highlighted that investing in talent, infrastructure, and local ecosystems across the Global South will ensure innovation “knows no borders” and fuels shared prosperity.
The report marks the first major output of AI Inclusive, an FII Institute initiative to accelerate AI growth in emerging markets by mobilizing capital, supporting startups, and building adaptable governance frameworks.
