The first iPhone came out in June 2007, and now 84% of Americans own a smartphone and many can’t imagine a world without them. 

While Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) didn’t make the first smartphone, it was the device that catapulted the technology to its modern-day success, quickly selling millions of units and becoming a worldwide talking point. In the last 16 years, computers have gotten smaller, faster and can do just about anything all while sitting in the palm of one's hand. 

Retail investors also have been investing substantial amounts in AI startups. 

RAD AI is a startup raising on Wefunder, which means anyone can invest for a limited time. More than 2,400 retail investors have invested over $2.5 million into RAD. On its Wefunder page, RAD says it is the “world’s first AI marketing platform built to understand emotion” and is used by some of the largest companies in the world. 

On StartEngine, there are currently more than nine AI startups launched, with some of the most notable being WeatherFlow-Tempest raising over $800,000 and WiGl raising over $2.37 million. 

AI has the tell-tale signs of being the next big industry, and it seems investors are taking notice. As the industry — and funding — continue to ramp up it’s likely this is only the beginning of what AI has to offer. 

See more on startup investing from Benzinga.