The Best AI Stocks to Invest In Now: Building a Portfolio for 2035 and Beyond

The artificial intelligence revolution isn’t coming—it’s already here. As investors look for the best AI stocks to invest in now, the opportunity is becoming clearer: those who position themselves in the right companies today could capture substantial gains over the next decade. Research from Roots Analysis projects the global AI market will explode from roughly $270 billion today to over $5.2 trillion within the next ten years. That’s not just growth—that’s transformation.

Why Now Is the Right Time to Invest in Best AI Stocks

All the massive capital flowing into data centers, GPUs, and AI infrastructure isn’t just creating short-term buzz. It’s laying the essential groundwork for a trillion-dollar industry. The question for investors isn’t whether AI will win—it’s which companies will be the biggest winners.

The challenge? Some of the largest beneficiaries haven’t even gone public yet, or remain in private hands. But while you’re scanning the horizon for the next breakthrough, proven leaders are already positioning themselves to dominate AI for years to come. These established tech giants have something smaller companies lack: vast resources, proven business models, and deep pockets to invest in emerging AI opportunities, whether through direct development or strategic stakes in private AI companies.

The Infrastructure Layer: Nvidia’s Commanding Position

Start with Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). The company functions as the essential backbone of modern AI, supplying the raw compute power that fuels everything from training advanced language models to powering data center operations worldwide.

Nvidia’s grip on the GPU market for data centers is remarkably strong, with estimates suggesting the company controls approximately 92% market share. This dominance didn’t happen by accident. The company’s CUDA programming environment has created substantial competitive advantages that competitors struggle to replicate. Virtually every major cloud provider and tech company has already invested heavily in building their AI infrastructure around Nvidia’s technology. Switching away would mean enormous operational disruption during a critical period of AI expansion.

That competitive advantage translates into real financial strength. Nvidia’s current order backlog exceeds $500 billion, signaling that demand remains robust and growth should continue. While competition from companies like AMD and custom-designed chips may intensify, Nvidia’s entrenched position makes it one of the most compelling long-term holdings for exposure to AI infrastructure.

The Diversified Tech Giant: Alphabet’s Multifaceted AI Edge

Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOGL, GOOG), Google’s parent company, represents a different kind of AI opportunity. The company’s advantages span multiple dimensions that most competitors simply can’t match.

Consider Alphabet’s reach: billions of users interact with its products daily through Google Search, YouTube, Android, and its suite of cloud services. Each of these platforms generates valuable data and creates natural entry points for AI integration. The company also operates Google Cloud and leads the autonomous ride-hailing market through Waymo.

But Alphabet isn’t content being just a user of AI—it’s becoming a builder of AI infrastructure. The company designed the Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), a custom chip specifically optimized for AI workloads, and trained its own cutting-edge language model, Gemini, on this technology. Alphabet has begun discussing selling TPUs to other AI companies, potentially opening an entirely new revenue stream. To add another layer, Alphabet holds roughly 7% of SpaceX, providing exposure to Starlink satellite internet infrastructure.

It’s difficult to imagine a more comprehensive technology and AI play than Alphabet. The company touches virtually every major AI trend simultaneously.

The Cloud and AI Partnership Strategy: Microsoft’s Dual Advantage

Most investors already recognize Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) as a tech heavyweight, but its position in AI deserves particular attention. The company operates two significant advantages.

First, Microsoft runs Azure, the world’s second-largest cloud services platform. As AI workloads increasingly shift to cloud infrastructure, Azure stands to capture significant growth from this secular trend. Second—and this cannot be overstated—Microsoft owns approximately 27% of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, the most widely adopted AI application in history.

This stake represents a direct bet on OpenAI’s future success without needing to wait for a public offering. If you want exposure to one of the hottest private AI companies, Microsoft ownership provides exactly that. Meanwhile, the company’s established software businesses, including the Windows operating system and Microsoft 365, generate stable cash flows and come with strong competitive moats built from decades of market leadership. Adding another layer of appeal, Microsoft has increased its dividend for 23 consecutive years, providing income for shareholders alongside potential capital appreciation.

The E-Commerce and Cloud Powerhouse: Amazon’s Strategic AI Positioning

Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) rounds out the large-cap tech exposure with a different angle on AI opportunity. The company operates Amazon Web Services (AWS), which competes directly with Azure and Nvidia’s infrastructure, holding the world’s leading position in cloud services by a considerable margin.

But Amazon has also secured a strategic partnership with Anthropic, an AI company building models to compete with OpenAI. Amazon has invested $8 billion in this partnership, providing a meaningful stake in an emerging leader in large language models. For investors seeking exposure to multiple AI competitive dynamics, this combination of a cloud leader with a direct stake in an alternative AI platform is compelling.

Beyond AI, Amazon’s core businesses—e-commerce, cloud services, and digital advertising—still have considerable runway for growth. The AI opportunity is genuinely the cherry on top of an already strong investment thesis. Amazon could deliver substantial returns over the next decade even if AI investments produce no additional value, making it a lower-risk way to gain some AI exposure.

The Specialized Software Player: Palantir’s Rapid Ascent

The story of Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) differs substantially from the other four. While the megacap tech companies have diversified empires, Palantir has a singular focus: custom software development built on proprietary platforms designed specifically to serve government and enterprise customers.

The company’s growth accelerated meaningfully after launching its AI-focused platform, called AIP, in the middle of 2023. The competitive wins have been impressive, with substantial wins in both government contracting and commercial business. Here’s the significant opportunity: Palantir still maintains fewer than 1,000 customers. The runway for customer acquisition over the next decade remains substantial.

The primary concern revolves around valuation. Palantir’s stock trades at premium valuations that could limit upside potential if growth disappoints. For aggressive investors, this creates a tactical consideration: building a position gradually rather than all at once, maintaining flexibility to add shares if the stock corrects. For patient long-term investors, eventual corrections could present attractive accumulation opportunities.

Building Your Best AI Stock Portfolio for 2035

These five companies collectively offer something rare: exposure to virtually every meaningful AI opportunity emerging across the technology landscape. Nvidia supplies the computational foundation. Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon provide cloud platforms, AI models, and strategic partnerships. Palantir represents emerging software-focused pure plays. Together, they create a diversified portfolio spanning hardware, cloud infrastructure, established software, and emerging applications.

The reality remains that by 2035, some of today’s biggest winners might come from companies not yet on most investors’ radars. But while identifying those hidden gems, there’s genuine value in positioning yourself in these proven leaders who already command resources, market position, and strategic investments across the AI landscape. Starting to build positions in these best AI stocks to invest in now—and holding them through the next decade—could position investors to participate meaningfully in the AI-driven growth ahead.