May 27 : U.S. small-cap technology stocks are surging after years of underperformance, a sign of how the AI frenzy is pushing technology investors to look beyond the Nvidias and Intels of the world.  Record U.S. equity inflows are moving beyond megacap firms into smaller companies that have flagged strong potential to benefit from the growing adoption of AI. The Invesco S&P SmallCap Information Tech ETF has seen $49.7 million of inflows so far this year after clocking outflows for four straight years, according to LSEG Lipper data. “The AI trade has broadened quite materially,” said Oren Shiran, portfolio manager for Lazard US Systematic Small Cap Equity ETF. “Small-caps have become a real part of the second and third order of AI.” Smaller technology companies can offer improving earnings prospects, relatively cheap valuations and a broad array of businesses related to the AI buildout, investors say, including chipmakers, data center suppliers and network equipment makers. The S&P 600 small-cap tech index has gained almost 54 per cent this year, compared with a 20.1 per cent …