Public funds ploughing cash into AI will 'own' megatrends shaping economy
QQQ•Sovereign wealth fund assets are forecast to rise nearly 50% to $22.4 trillion by 2030, while public pension assets are projected to reach $36.3 trillion. State investors are taking a more direct role in deals and infrastructure, with most of their roughly $66 billion in 2025 AI and digitisation investment going to the US.
1. Assets set to grow
A PwC report forecasts sovereign wealth fund assets will rise to $22.4 trillion by 2030, from about $15.2 trillion. Public pension assets are projected to reach $36.3 trillion, from about $27.6 trillion, while central bank assets are expected to climb to about $20.9 trillion, from about $17.3 trillion.
2. More direct investment
The report found that major public investors are moving from passive investing toward originating deals, taking controlling positions and operating assets directly. In 2025, the bulk of the roughly $66 billion state investors channelled to AI and digitisation went to the US, while flows to China slipped to around $4 billion. Gulf state funds were tilting toward the US, while Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund cut foreign allocations to roughly 20%, from a peak near 30%.
