Artificial intelligence (AI) might be the headline-grabber, but behind every breakthrough lies an enormous build-out of the basic infrastructure that makes it possible.
The world's largest tech companies are racing to train ever-larger AI models. This requires more data centres, energy, and secure networks, as well as vast amounts of industrial land and long-term capital investment.
This is where a handful of ASX AI companies come in. They aren't developing AI models or software, but their business models are increasingly critical to the global AI boom.
Goodman Group (ASX: GMG) – the property backbone
Goodman Group is a global industrial property leader that owns, develops, and manages high-quality, sustainable logistics properties and data centres in major global cities. These assets are critical to the digital economy, underpinning e-commerce, cloud services, and increasingly, artificial intelligence.
The company's portfolio is currently valued at $85.8 billion, and it isn't slowing down. Goodman has $13.7 billion of development work in progress across 66 projects worldwide, with more than half of that pipeline dedicated to data centres. This puts it in a prime position to benefit from the ongoing build-out of infrastructure required for AI and machine learning.
Goodman has built a reputation for investing in forward-looking assets, from warehouses supporting the rise of online retail to logistics hubs and, more recently, data centres. These facilities are capital-intensive but essential for AI workloads, making Goodman something of a 'picks-and-shovels' play in the AI revolution. For investors, that means exposure to long-term growth drivers without having to pick the winning software platforms directly.
GenusPlus Group (ASX: GNP) – powering the grid
All those servers and data centres run on electricity. And not just any electricity – AI requires highly reliable, high-capacity energy infrastructure.
GenusPlus provides the poles, wires, and substations that connect the grid. It builds and maintains the backbone of Australia's electricity networks, often under long-dated contracts with utilities and government.
This isn't glamorous work, but it's vital. With Australia pushing for a renewable energy transition and AI driving new power demand, companies like GenusPlus could be long-term beneficiaries. Their revenues are often inflation-linked, providing resilience in uncertain markets.
Macquarie Technology Group (ASX: MAQ) – hosting the workloads
Closer to the coalface of AI sits Macquarie Technology Group. It is one of Australia's leading data centre operators, providing infrastructure for cloud computing, cybersecurity, and telecommunications.
The company offers tailored solutions for medium-to-large enterprises and government agencies — the kind of clients now grappling with how to deploy AI safely and effectively.
Incredibly, Macquarie has delivered 20 consecutive half-years of operating income growth. Its most recent half-year result showed modest revenue growth of 1% and EBITDA growth of 6%. That consistency demonstrates the resilience of its recurring revenue model, which could compound further as AI adoption accelerates.
Foolish Takeaway
AI might look like a pure technology story, but its growth depends on the real-world infrastructure that supports it.
Property landlords, power grid specialists, and data centre operators all stand to benefit as investment pours into the sector.
