Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for a long time, and despite the recent extreme hype, interest in it is here to stay. According to Bloomberg Intelligence (BI), the market for generative AI might expand by more than 40% a year and reach $1.2 trillion by 2032. An estimated $280 billion in new income prospects from software alone will be created by that rate of growth.

While it can be difficult to predict the long-term winners, emerging new sectors are fascinating. The most successful business in the next 20 years may not even be in existence now, as investors are well aware. This implies that the optimal approach to investing might be to cast a wide net. Finding the early winners in this situation, buying their stocks, and keeping an eye on AI’s development over time may be the wisest course of action.

Upon scrutinizing numerous firms, these five were identified due to their robust positions to spearhead the sector’s expansion. Think about acquiring and retaining these AI stocks. They hold leadership positions in the AI sector and have the potential to produce investment returns that change people’s lives for the foreseeable future.

1. Nvidia

It may appear as though artificial intelligence (AI) has suddenly become the biggest thing on Wall Street. Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), a manufacturer of graphics processors, appears to have moved rapidly as well, snagging up to 90% of the market for chips that drive AI models. According to Advanced Micro Devices, one of its rivals, the market for AI chips is expected to reach $400 billion in the coming years. If you do the arithmetic, Nvidia’s $45 billion in annual business revenue from the previous year is certain to soar.

Nvidia’s high-performance CPUs and well-liked CUDA computing software, which is geared to make the most of them, combine to provide a turnkey package that the industry consistently chooses above competitors’ offerings. Maybe Nvidia’s rivals weren’t prepared for the rise of AI. The stock has increased by more than 230% just in the last year, but as Nvidia expands, the long-term demand for AI processors should propel the stock even higher.

2. ASML

It’s ironic that not all chip companies, like Nvidia, actually make chips themselves. They create them alone. The construction is done by chip manufacturers, or “fabs,” which use state-of-the-art machinery to create complex patterns on silicon wafers. Extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) equipment is designed and manufactured by ASML (NASDAQ: ASML), and it is utilized in the production of the most cutting-edge semiconductors available today.

Surprisingly, ASML is the only manufacturer of this kind of equipment. This machine can cost up to $400 million per year and requires up to 250 crates and 13 cargo containers to ship due to its complexity. AI and general technology will, of course, continue to advance. To create breakthroughs, ever-better machinery will be needed to produce chips. The AI revolution should benefit ASML in the long run.

3. Palantir

Large tech companies are investing in developing cutting-edge computer systems, but smaller businesses want to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to manage their operations more efficiently. Palantir Technologies (NYSE:PLTR) is experiencing explosive growth as a result. The company offers bespoke software programs developed on Foundry, AIP, and Gotham, three exclusive platforms. AIP was specifically created for developing and using AI in business applications

The U.S. government is Palantir’s largest and oldest customer, accounting for over half of the company’s income. The commercial sector is doing well, though. Palantir’s enterprise clientele increased to 221 in the fourth quarter, up 22% from the previous three months and 55% year over year. That is but a small portion of the millions of enterprises that make up the corporate landscape. Palantir could continue to expand if businesses all across the world require AI to compete.

4. Supermicro

Over the years, Super Micro Computer (NASDAQ: SMCI), also referred to as Supermicro, has transitioned from offering individual components to offering comprehensive IT solutions. Supermicro is experiencing rapid growth as a result of the growing need for AI in data centers. The management of the company anticipates that its overall revenue will double this fiscal year, which ends during the summer, as the company’s sales growth has quickened.

Its triumph makes sense once more. Businesses require AI skills, but non-technical companies would be significantly better served by having a third party, such as Supermicro, develop the system from the ground up. If their processing needs increase over time, it will be simpler to expand the system thanks to its modular design. Customers pick them over competitors because, according to management estimates, they are growing five times faster than the industry as a whole. It is encouraging for both shareholders and Supermicro’s long-term outlook.

5. Microsoft

OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a generative AI chatbot, may have started the AI craze. The tech behemoth Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) seized the chance to further its collaboration with OpenAI and link the latter’s expansion to its cloud platform, Azure. That has already produced results. More than half of the Fortune 500 currently use Azure and OpenAI in their operations, according to a survey from Microsoft that showed an increase in Azure’s growth in the most recent quarter. Azure is the second-best cloud platform globally, only eclipsed by AWS from Amazon.

However, working with Microsoft gives you access to a diverse company with income sources including enterprise software, gaming, cloud computing, and more. It also has a higher floor than most equities you’ll come across because of its enormous size and deep coffers. Of all, with a market valuation of $3.1 trillion, it’s probably too big to make you a millionaire on your own. Instead, anticipate a consistent performer in your portfolio that typically grinds higher over time.