Black billionaire Robert F. Smith sees next AI growth in private software companies
Billionaires Africa | 07.01.2026 19:40
America’s second-richest Black billionaire, Robert F. Smith, has disclosed that the next wave of artificial intelligence growth will come from private software companies, not the high-profile public AI giants. His private equity firm, Vista Equity Partners, is betting heavily on applications and “agentic” software—AI tools that can perform tasks for businesses—highlighting a less visible but rapidly expanding segment of AI and alternative investments.
