Kevin O'Leary Picks 2 AI Bets in 36 Million Small Firms and $100 Billion Data Centers
Updated
Updated · Fortune · Jul 5
Kevin O'Leary Picks 2 AI Bets in 36 Million Small Firms and $100 Billion Data Centers
1 articles · Updated · Fortune · Jul 5
Summary
Kevin O'Leary said the best AI opportunities for young entrepreneurs are helping small businesses deploy AI tools and building data centers rather than chasing corporate giants.
36 million U.S. small businesses account for just under half of GDP, he said, creating demand for paid AI implementation and data-management services as many firms lag large companies in adoption.
5 gigawatts of data-center capacity is under construction against far larger AI infrastructure demand, which O'Leary called the sector's biggest pain point and framed as a real-estate development play.
O'Leary has already backed a $70 billion Alberta data-center park and a $100 billion Utah project, both of which have faced scrutiny over delays or local impacts.
Goldman Sachs estimates AI will lift data-center power demand 165% by 2030, while Morgan Stanley said hyperscaler spending on data centers and related items was nearing $400 billion a year.