Six in 10 Investors Own AI Stocks. Should You?

By Lyle Daly – Mar 31, 2026 at 6:00PM ESTKey Points59% of investors own AI stocks, with younger investors having the highest ownership rates.AI looks like the next technological breakthrough, and hyperscalers are investing heavily in it.Some degree of AI exposure makes sense for most investors.Despite the tech sector's slump this year, investors are still largely bullish on artificial intelligence (AI). Nearly six in 10 (59%) investors surveyed on March 3, 2026, hold AI stocks, according to recent research by The Motley Fool. As you may expect, Gen Z and millennials have the highest AI stock ownership rates at 67% and 66%, respectively. Should you have AI stocks in your own portfolio? Yes, you probably should, with the exact allocation depending on your age, risk tolerance, and goals. Image source: Getty Images. AI is a polarizing subject, but it could be one of the most impactful technological developments of our lifetime.

The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI) says that "AI is poised to be the most transformative technology of the 21st century." The most successful tech companies clearly see AI as a worthy investment. Four of the leading hyperscalers, Alphabet, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft, have projected $600 billion to $700 billion in 2026 capital expenditures, largely to fund AI data centers. Many top AI stocks have also delivered staggering returns to shareholders. Nvidia (NVDA +5.59%) is the poster child here, as it's up a whopping 1,190% over the last five years (as of March 30). The chipmaker, which supplies graphics processing units (GPUs) for AI data centers, demonstrates one of the many ways you can invest in AI. You can also invest in AI infrastructure companies or companies that incorporate AI into their products and services. ExpandNASDAQ: NVDANvidiaToday's Change(5.59%) $9.23Current Price$174.40Key Data PointsMarket Cap$4.0TDay's Range$166.96 - $174.6252wk Range$86.62 - $212.19Volume226MAvg Vol180MGross Margin71.07%Dividend Yield0.02% We're still very much in the early stages with AI. Given the incredible growth potential, it's worth having at least some exposure to AI in your portfolio.Read NextMar 31, 2026 •By Eric TrieStock Market Today, March 31: Nvidia Rises on $2 Billion Marvell AI Infrastructure PartnershipMar 31, 2026 •By Keith NoonanNvidia Just Invested $2 Billion in This Chip Stock. Here's What Investors Should KnowMar 31, 2026 •By Howard SmithWhy Did Nvidia Stock Pop Today?Mar 31, 2026 •By Dave KovaleskiWant $1 Million in Retirement? This 1 AI Stock Has the Growth Rate to Get You There From $10,000.Mar 31, 2026 •By Jeremy BowmanWho Owns ChatGPT? Largest Shareholders & Board of DirectorsMar 31, 2026 •By Geoffrey Seiler3 Tech Stocks the Market Sold Off for the Wrong Reasons This Past MonthAbout the AuthorLyle Daly is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering information technology and cryptocurrency. Lyle has been a contributor at the financial services company since 2018. His work has been featured on USA Today, Yahoo Finance, MSN, Fox Business, and Nasdaq. Before joining The Motley Fool, he wrote for financial brands including Intuit.TMFLyleDalyX@LyleDalyStocks MentionedNvidiaNASDAQ: NVDA$174.36(+5.56%)+$9.19*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.