The Landscape of the AI Economy

Stripe analyzed country-specific demand and growth trends in the AI economy based on its payment data. The analysis included 88% of the 2026 Forbes AI 50 companies using Stripe, and the top 100 AI companies by revenue expanded into an average of 120 markets by their third year of operation.

While countries with large AI spending volumes are concentrated in high-GDP, highly connected markets such as the United States, looking at AI spending as a share of total Stripe payments highlights India, Mexico, Poland, and the United Arab Emirates. Brazil, Japan, and South Korea emerged as markets with both high absolute AI spending and a high share of AI spending relative to total spending.

The median year-over-year growth rate for the 35 markets where AI spending exceeded $20 million by 2024 was approximately 100%. The United States grew by 91%, Australia by 61%, and Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom also maintained strong growth.

South Korea was evaluated as a market combining a 134% AI spending growth rate, a large market size, and a high share of AI spending relative to total payments. Mexico was cited as the fastest-growing market, with AI spending increasing by 264% year-over-year, with proximity to the United States and investment from US companies noted as contributing factors.

Global launch alone does not guarantee long-term revenue growth. As the top 100 AI companies by revenue generate 48% of their total revenue from markets outside their home countries, localizing products and sales methods—such as local marketing, translation, and payment methods—is crucial for expanding the international revenue base.