Although this list is not in order of best to worst, I'd still rank Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) as my top artificial intelligence stock to buy for 2026. It sits at the core of the AI infrastructure buildout, and its graphics processing units (GPUs) remain the best and most popular parallel processing option available.

Companies investing in unified, managed and rich data layers will drive innovation in the coming decade. Through these efforts, AI systems, such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and autonomous agents, can access data in real time, understand its origin, eliminate duplicate data and operate with clarity and precision.

Artificial intelligence presents a generational investment opportunity. The Motley Fool's 2026 AI Investor Outlook Report shows that 93% investors are confident in their AI exposure. AI could shape markets in 2026 as companies and investors shift focus to long-term value creation.

Nvidia has been the star of the artificial intelligence show for three years, and its stellar performance doesn't appear to be coming to an end.

Exclusive five-week initiative launches January 16, positioning Exertus at the forefront of agent education and

Transit officials are probing proposals from tech companies on how best to use artificial intelligence to patrol subway cars and buses in real-time through thousands of video feeds, documents

Though Nvidia rose nearly 39% in 2025, it was outpaced by many other companies benefiting in different ways from the AI boom -- among them, Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX). Shares of the manufacturer of digital storage devices such as hard-disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs) are up by a remarkable 225% in the past year.

“As more schools and districts invest in AI training, teachers are seeing practical use cases and gaining the confidence to try these tools themselves,” said Jessica Garner, the senior director of innovative learning for ISTE+ASCD, a nonprofit organization that provides professional development for AI use in schools.

Artificial intelligence is helping make warfighting cheaper, decision-making faster and putting fewer of our military in danger. The hope is that the power of this tech will actually deter and prevent war. But if it doesn’t, no one expects it to be pretty. Despite all historical advantages, war never changes.

This AI infrastructure company provides an overlooked but critical resource to data centers, and is set for a growth spurt because of it.