The U.S. artificial intelligence sector continued its robust growth trajectory in 2025, with 55 startups securing funding rounds of $100 million or more, according to TechCrunch data. This surge builds upon the momentum of 2024, which saw 49 companies achieve similar funding milestones.

While the number of billion-dollar rounds decreased slightly from seven in 2024 to four in 2025 (two of which went to Anthropic), a notable shift occurred in the frequency of multiple large funding rounds. In 2025, eight companies secured more than one round exceeding $100 million, a significant increase from the three observed in the previous year. December saw Austin, Texas-based Mythic, a company focused on developing power-efficient compute solutions for AI, close a $125 million venture round led by DCVC. The round, announced on December 17th, included participation from SoftBank, NEA, and Linse Capital, among others.

The continued influx of capital into AI startups underscores the market's belief in the transformative potential of artificial intelligence across various industries. These investments fuel innovation in areas ranging from AI infrastructure and machine learning platforms to AI-powered applications in healthcare, finance, and autonomous systems. Mythic's focus on power-efficient compute, for example, addresses a critical challenge in deploying AI models at scale, particularly in edge computing environments where energy consumption is a primary concern.

The AI industry's strong performance in 2024 and 2025 sets the stage for continued growth in 2026. Early indicators, such as Elon Musk's xAI announcing a $20 billion Series E round and Sam Altman's brain-computer interface startup, Merge Labs, raising a $250 million seed round led by OpenAI, suggest another year of significant investment and innovation.

However, it is important to note that the AI landscape is constantly evolving. Factors such as regulatory developments, ethical considerations, and the emergence of new technologies could influence the pace and direction of growth. TechCrunch will continue to monitor these trends and provide in-depth analysis of the AI industry's progress throughout 2026.