Why This Matters to Distributors: AI is emerging as one of the largest investment themes in the U.S. economy, driving demand for data centers, electrical infrastructure, automation, computing equipment, and industrial services. Distributors that align with those growth markets could benefit, but economists warn that success will depend on disciplined investment, supply chain resilience, and a clear return on investment.
Artificial intelligence is creating one of the largest investment cycles in modern U.S. history and opening new opportunities for distributors, but companies must remain disciplined in how they deploy the technology, economist and keynote speaker Alex Chausovsky told industry executives Tuesday.
Speaking at the Applied AI for Distributors conference, June 23 at the Chicago Marriott Hotel in Rosemont, Ill., Chausovsky, president of 3DM Consulting, said AI has become a central driver of economic competitiveness and investment, fueling growth in data centers, computing infrastructure, power generation and related industrial markets.
“I firmly believe based on what has unfolded over the last decade or so that AI is at the core of competitiveness in the global economy today,” Chausovsky said.
The United States remains the global leader in AI investment despite growing competition from China, he said. Private-sector spending on AI in the U.S. exceeds that of any other country, while the nation has approximately 3,700 data centers in operation and another 1,500 in various stages of development.
For distributors, that investment wave is creating new opportunities across electrical products, industrial supplies, automation systems, construction materials, and infrastructure-related categories.
Data centers now account for more than half of all office construction activity in the United States, Chausovsky said.
“You as a decision maker, as a leader, have to decide: How do I capture that pie?” he said.
The scale of AI-related spending has become difficult to ignore. Chausovsky said investment in data centers, computing infrastructure and supporting utility systems totaled $450 billion over the past 12 months and has exceeded $1 trillion during the past six years.
“If nothing else tells you what an opportunity this is, how this time really is different, those numbers should speak very loud,” he said.
Still, Chausovsky cautioned distributors against pursuing AI initiatives simply because competitors are doing so.
While studies indicate AI is beginning to generate measurable productivity gains, he said many organizations have yet to realize significant profit improvements from their investments.
“It can’t be this reactionary mode,” Chausovsky said. “It’s got to be research-oriented, it’s got to be justified in terms of its return, and it’s got to be thoughtfully implemented over time.”
Research cited during the presentation suggests U.S. productivity growth has increased from 1.5% annually to 3% annually during the past several years, with much of that gain attributed to AI-enabled tools and automation.
The impact on employment, however, remains limited.
“I don’t see AI killing jobs right now,” Chausovsky said. “I see companies doing more with less workers and letting natural attrition do the dirty work for them.”
In wholesale trade, AI-related skills currently appear in about 2% of job postings, though that figure has increased 83% from a year earlier, indicating adoption is accelerating throughout the sector.
Beyond AI, Chausovsky warned distributors that geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions remain significant risks.
He highlighted rising transportation costs, semiconductor constraints, critical mineral shortages, and growing dependence on global supply chains that support AI infrastructure.
“The world that we’re living in isn’t getting any simpler,” he said.
As a result, distributors should move beyond traditional strategic planning and build multiple operating scenarios that account for economic, political and supply chain volatility.
“You’ve got to be creating scenarios and thinking through how do I respond,” Chausovsky said.
Despite those risks, Chausovsky expressed confidence in the broader U.S. economy.
Real gross domestic product reached a record high in the first quarter of 2026, while industrial production continues to point toward low- to mid-single-digit growth through the remainder of the year and into 2027. Industrial production is key economic metric distributors should eye closely, he said.
His message to distributors was that AI represents a genuine growth opportunity, but competitive advantage will come from execution rather than experimentation.
“If you want something beyond that, that’s up to you,” Chausovsky said. “You’ve got to gain share, and you’ve got to find new customers.”
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