Top AI and Robotics ETFs to Watch in 2026: 10 Funds for Artificial Intelligence, Automation and the AI Infrastructure Boom
Important: This article is an educational comparison, not personalized investment advice. ETF holdings, prices, expense ratios, portfolio weights and strategies can change. Investors should check the latest fund documents before buying.
AI and Robotics ETFs 2026: The Investment Landscape Has Changed
Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving beyond chatbots and large language models into robotics, autonomous systems, healthcare, industrial automation, and physical AI. As companies race to deploy AI-powered robots, build AI infrastructure, and automate manufacturing, investors are increasingly turning to AI and robotics exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for diversified exposure.
- Bloomberg Intelligence: Forecasts an aggressive 42% to 43% CAGR. This aggressive curve spans from the initial market explosion toward the projected USD 1.3 trillion valuation by 2032. It explicitly accounts for rapid shifts in cloud infrastructure spending, generative hardware, and digital advertising adapters.
- Statista Market Insights: Models a broader 26.6% CAGR for the overarching automated AI ecosystem through 2031. This calculation leans heavily on standardized software integrations across global corporate suites.
- Custom Market Insights (CMI): Tracks a mid-range trajectory, anchoring long-term commercial software and API enterprise scaling at a 28.2% CAGR stretching through 2033.
Rather than betting on a handful of individual stocks, AI ETFs provide exposure to entire ecosystems that include semiconductor leaders, cloud infrastructure providers, software developers, industrial automation firms, and robotics manufacturers.
The artificial-intelligence investment story has evolved rapidly since the original version of this article was published.
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Early AI ETF strategies were often built around a relatively simple thesis: own companies involved in artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and semiconductors. The 2026 market is considerably more differentiated.
AI spending now extends across a much larger economic value chain:
- AI accelerators and advanced semiconductors
- High-bandwidth memory and semiconductor equipment
- Data centers and networking
- Power generation, transmission and cooling
- Cloud infrastructure
- AI software and enterprise applications
- Generative AI
- Autonomous vehicles and robotaxis
- Industrial automation
- Humanoid and service robotics
This creates an important distinction for ETF investors: an "AI ETF" is not necessarily an AI-infrastructure ETF, and a robotics ETF is not necessarily a generative-AI ETF.
Our 2026 AI & Robotics ETF Ranking
1. AIS — VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF
Best for: AI infrastructure / "picks and shovels"
AIS is one of the most interesting developments in the AI ETF universe because it focuses heavily on the infrastructure required to build the AI economy. VistaShares describes the strategy as targeting companies involved in high-performance semiconductors, AI-enabled applications and data centers. As of August 14, 2026, the fund reported an expense ratio of 0.75%, approximately $981 million in net assets and roughly 65–75 holdings.
Why it stands out: Rather than relying primarily on consumer-facing AI applications, AIS targets the infrastructure and supply chain supporting the AI buildout.
Main risk: AI infrastructure valuations can become extremely sensitive to capital-spending expectations, semiconductor cycles and changes in hyperscaler spending.
2. AIQ — Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF
Best for: Broad AI exposure
AIQ provides diversified exposure to companies positioned to benefit from artificial intelligence and technology development. Global X currently lists a 0.68% total expense ratio.
Why it stands out: AIQ is broader than a pure robotics fund and can provide exposure across the AI technology ecosystem.
Main risk: Investors may already own many of the same mega-cap technology companies through broad-market ETFs such as the S&P 500 or Nasdaq-100.
3. ARTY — iShares Future AI & Tech ETF
Best for: Diversified global AI exposure
ARTY deserves special attention because investors searching for the former IRBO may not realize that the fund was renamed and its strategy changed. The iShares Future AI & Tech ETF currently carries a 0.47% expense ratio. BlackRock reports a 60.97% 2026 year-to-date NAV total return as of August 13, 2026.
The fund now tracks the Morningstar Global Artificial Intelligence Select Index and focuses on areas including generative AI, AI infrastructure, software and services.
Important update: IRBO is no longer the appropriate ticker to use when discussing the current fund. The fund transitioned to ARTY.
4. BOTZ — Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF
Best for: Robotics + AI + industrial automation
BOTZ remains one of the best-known ways to obtain concentrated exposure to robotics and artificial intelligence. Global X reports a 0.68% total expense ratio and approximately $3.73 billion in net assets.
Its portfolio provides exposure to companies involved in robotics, automation and AI, including international industrial technology businesses.
Why it stands out: BOTZ offers a different exposure profile from AI ETFs dominated by U.S. software and semiconductor companies.
Main risk: Robotics adoption can take longer than expected, while industrial automation companies remain exposed to global manufacturing cycles.
5. ARKQ — ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF
Best for: High-conviction autonomous technology
ARKQ is a more actively managed and concentrated approach to autonomous technology and robotics. ARK currently lists a 0.75% expense ratio and a typical range of approximately 30–50 holdings.
The strategy can provide exposure to autonomous transportation, robotics, AI, energy storage and other technologies associated with autonomous systems.
Why it stands out: ARKQ can move beyond the traditional definition of an AI ETF and target companies that ARK believes are beneficiaries of technological disruption.
Main risk: Concentration, valuation risk and active-management risk can make ARKQ substantially more volatile than broad-market ETFs.
6. ROBO — ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF
Best for: Pure robotics and automation exposure
ROBO focuses on global companies involved in robotics and automation. The fund sponsor describes the portfolio as targeting companies driving transformative innovations in robotics and automation.
Why it stands out: ROBO can complement a conventional AI portfolio by providing exposure to the physical automation economy rather than concentrating only on AI software and chips.
Main risk: Robotics and automation companies can be more cyclical and volatile than broad technology companies.
7. CHAT — Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF
Best for: Generative AI
CHAT provides a more targeted way to invest in the generative-AI theme. Roundhill describes CHAT as an actively managed ETF and lists a 0.75% gross expense ratio.
Why it stands out: CHAT is designed around the generative-AI investment thesis rather than robotics alone.
Main risk: Generative-AI companies can trade at elevated valuations, while the ultimate economic value captured by AI software remains uncertain.
8. IRBO — Historical ticker / no longer the current fund
Status: Replaced by ARTY
IRBO should no longer be presented as a current standalone choice in a 2026 ETF ranking. The iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF was rebranded as the iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (ARTY), accompanied by a new benchmark and investment approach.
This correction is important for SEO as well as investor accuracy because older AI ETF articles continue to rank for "IRBO."
9. AIVC — Amplify Bloomberg AI Value Chain ETF
Status: Terminated
AIVC should be removed from current 2026 "best AI ETF" lists. Amplify's own materials state that the fund terminated on or about June 9, 2026.
This is another reason investors should be cautious with older AI ETF rankings: thematic funds can be renamed, repositioned, merged or closed as the ETF industry evolves.
10. AI Infrastructure ETF strategies
Best for: Investors seeking the "picks-and-shovels" side of AI
AI infrastructure deserves to be treated as its own ETF category in 2026. AI data centers require semiconductors, networking, memory, electrical equipment, cooling, power generation and construction. The investment opportunity therefore extends beyond companies directly marketing AI software.
Recent market developments have increased investor attention on infrastructure beneficiaries as AI capital expenditure continues to reshape semiconductor, data-center and energy-related markets.
Best AI ETF by Investment Objective
- Best AI infrastructure ETF: AIS
- Best broad AI ETF: AIQ
- Best diversified future-AI ETF: ARTY
- Best robotics + AI ETF: BOTZ
- Best autonomous technology ETF: ARKQ
- Best pure robotics and automation ETF: ROBO
- Best generative-AI ETF: CHAT
- Best higher-risk/high-conviction approach: ARKQ or CHAT
- Best infrastructure-focused approach: AIS
Why AI Infrastructure May Be the Next Major ETF Theme
One of the biggest changes in the AI investment thesis is the recognition that artificial intelligence requires enormous physical infrastructure.
Every major expansion in AI computing creates demand for:
- Advanced GPUs and AI accelerators
- High-bandwidth memory
- Semiconductor manufacturing equipment
- High-speed networking
- Data-center servers
- Cooling systems
- Electrical equipment
- Power generation and grid infrastructure
- Fiber and communications infrastructure
- Data-center construction
This creates a useful distinction between AI application winners and AI infrastructure winners.
Infrastructure companies can potentially benefit even when it remains unclear which consumer AI application ultimately dominates. The thesis is essentially: regardless of which AI model wins, somebody has to supply the computing, memory, networking, electricity and data-center capacity.
AI ETFs vs Robotics ETFs: What Is the Difference?
AI ETFs generally emphasize software, semiconductors, cloud computing, data centers and companies developing or commercializing artificial intelligence.
Robotics ETFs generally emphasize the physical implementation of automation: industrial robots, machine vision, autonomous systems, factory automation and related hardware.
The two themes increasingly overlap.
AI provides the intelligence. Robotics provides the physical embodiment of that intelligence.
This convergence is particularly important for autonomous vehicles, warehouse automation, humanoid robots, industrial robots and AI-enabled manufacturing.
What Makes a Good AI ETF?
Investors should look beyond the words "AI" and "robotics" in an ETF's name.
1. Examine the holdings
Determine whether the ETF actually owns companies generating meaningful revenue from AI, automation or related infrastructure.
2. Check concentration
An ETF may contain dozens of stocks but still be heavily dependent on its largest five or ten positions.
3. Compare expense ratios
Thematic ETFs commonly charge more than broad-market index ETFs. Current examples include 0.47% for ARTY, 0.68% for BOTZ and AIQ, and 0.75% for ARKQ and CHAT.
4. Examine liquidity
Higher trading volume and tighter bid-ask spreads can reduce transaction costs, particularly for investors making larger purchases.
5. Understand the index methodology
Two ETFs can both claim to provide AI exposure while producing dramatically different portfolios because their index methodologies define "AI" differently.
6. Look at geographic exposure
Some AI portfolios are heavily U.S.-centric. Others provide meaningful exposure to Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Europe and other technology markets.
7. Determine whether the fund is active or passive
An actively managed fund may adjust its holdings more quickly when the manager identifies emerging opportunities, but investors are also paying for active management.
AI ETF Valuation Risk: The Most Important Warning
The most important investment distinction is between technology adoption and shareholder returns.
A technology can transform the economy while investors in particular companies still lose money if they overpay for future growth.
AI ETFs face several valuation risks:
- High expectations for future earnings growth
- Rapid changes in AI technology
- Competition between model providers
- Potential compression of AI software margins
- Huge capital expenditure requirements
- Semiconductor cyclicality
- Regulatory changes
- Geopolitical restrictions on advanced chips
- Concentration in a small number of AI leaders
The 2025 DeepSeek-related market selloff demonstrated how quickly AI valuations can react when investors reassess assumptions about computing requirements and competitive dynamics.
AI ETF Portfolio Strategy for 2026–2030
Rather than buying every AI ETF, investors may want to build exposure around different layers of the AI value chain.
Conservative AI satellite approach
Use a diversified broad-market ETF as the core portfolio and add a relatively small allocation to an AI ETF such as AIQ or ARTY.
AI infrastructure approach
Investors who believe AI capital expenditure will remain strong may prefer AIS and related semiconductor, data-center and infrastructure exposure.
AI + robotics approach
A combination of AI exposure and robotics exposure can capture both the digital and physical sides of automation. BOTZ or ROBO can provide the robotics component.
High-growth thematic approach
Investors with higher risk tolerance could combine generative AI, infrastructure and autonomous technology strategies such as CHAT, AIS and ARKQ.
However, thematic ETFs should generally be viewed as satellite positions rather than automatic replacements for diversified core portfolios.
Example AI ETF Portfolio Allocations
Illustrative only — not personalized investment advice.
Balanced AI satellite:
- 40% AIQ
- 25% ARTY
- 20% BOTZ
- 15% AIS
AI infrastructure focused:
- 45% AIS
- 25% AIQ
- 20% ARTY
- 10% BOTZ
High-conviction innovation:
- 30% AIS
- 25% CHAT
- 25% ARKQ
- 20% BOTZ
These percentages are examples for illustrating portfolio construction, not recommendations for any particular investor.
AI ETFs vs Buying Individual AI Stocks
The central advantage of an ETF is diversification.
Instead of attempting to determine whether Nvidia, Broadcom, AMD, Palantir, Alphabet, Microsoft, TSMC, ABB, FANUC or another individual company will become the ultimate AI winner, an ETF can distribute exposure across multiple companies.
The trade-off is that an ETF also owns the weaker companies within its investment universe.
For most long-term investors, the more important question may therefore be:
"How much AI exposure should my portfolio have?"
rather than:
"Which single AI stock will be the winner?"
Key Risks of Investing in AI and Robotics ETFs
- Valuation risk: Future growth may already be reflected in stock prices.
- Concentration risk: A small number of companies can dominate thematic ETFs.
- Technology risk: Today's leading architecture may eventually be displaced.
- Competition risk: AI markets can change extremely quickly.
- Regulatory risk: Governments may introduce rules affecting AI development and deployment.
- Geopolitical risk: Semiconductor supply chains are globally interconnected and politically sensitive.
- Economic-cycle risk: Industrial automation and semiconductor companies remain cyclical.
- ETF methodology risk: A fund's definition of "AI" may not match an investor's definition.
- Closure or strategy-change risk: Smaller thematic ETFs can be terminated or substantially changed.
The termination of AIVC and the transformation of IRBO into ARTY illustrate why investors should verify the current status of an ETF rather than relying on older lists.
2026 AI ETF Watchlist: What We Are Watching
- AI data-center capital expenditure
- Advanced semiconductor demand
- High-bandwidth memory demand
- AI networking requirements
- Data-center power consumption
- AI inference growth
- Enterprise AI monetization
- Generative-AI revenue growth
- Humanoid robotics commercialization
- Autonomous driving deployment
- Industrial automation spending
- AI regulation and export controls
Bottom Line: Which AI ETF Is Best for 2026?
There is no single "best" AI ETF for every investor.
The strongest choice depends on what part of the AI revolution an investor wants to own.
- AIS is particularly interesting for investors focused on AI infrastructure and the semiconductor/data-center supply chain.
- AIQ offers a broader AI and technology approach.
- ARTY provides diversified exposure to the evolving AI ecosystem and is the current successor to IRBO.
- BOTZ is a strong candidate for investors who want robotics and AI together.
- ROBO offers a more robotics-and-automation-oriented approach.
- ARKQ is appropriate for investors seeking a more concentrated, actively managed autonomous-technology strategy.
- CHAT provides targeted exposure to generative AI.
The biggest lesson for 2026 is that AI investing is no longer one trade. The opportunity is becoming a multi-layer ecosystem encompassing chips, memory, networking, data centers, electricity, software, autonomous machines and robotics.
For long-term investors, the most robust approach may therefore be to treat AI ETFs as a diversified thematic satellite around an appropriate core portfolio rather than assuming that every AI-related security will benefit equally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best AI ETF for 2026?
There is no universal best AI ETF. AIS is particularly focused on AI infrastructure, AIQ offers broad AI exposure, ARTY provides diversified future-AI exposure, BOTZ emphasizes robotics and AI, and CHAT focuses on generative AI.
What is the best robotics ETF?
BOTZ and ROBO are two established choices for robotics and automation exposure, while ARKQ takes a broader, actively managed approach to autonomous technology and robotics.
Is IRBO still an ETF?
The former iShares Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF ticker IRBO was changed to ARTY as part of a broader name and benchmark change. Investors researching IRBO should therefore examine the current ARTY fund rather than treating IRBO as a separate 2026 ETF.
What happened to AIVC?
Amplify states that AIVC terminated on or about June 9, 2026. It should therefore not be included as an active 2026 AI ETF recommendation.
Are AI ETFs risky?
Yes. AI ETFs can have substantial valuation, concentration, technology, regulatory and geopolitical risks. They may also be significantly more volatile than diversified broad-market ETFs.
Should AI ETFs be part of a diversified portfolio?
They can be, depending on an investor's objectives, risk tolerance and existing holdings. Because many AI ETFs overlap with major technology companies already found in broad-market indexes, investors should examine total portfolio exposure rather than evaluating an AI ETF in isolation.
Are robotics and AI the same investment theme?
No. Robotics focuses more heavily on physical automation and autonomous machines, while AI includes software, semiconductors, cloud infrastructure and data-center technologies. The themes increasingly overlap as AI becomes the intelligence layer behind autonomous machines.
Editorial & Data Methodology
This page was substantially updated on August 16, 2026. The review prioritizes current fund-provider information where available and cross-checks fund status, strategy and expense information against independent financial sources.
ETF classifications on this page are based on investment exposure rather than simply the fund's marketing name. Funds that have been terminated, renamed or materially repositioned are explicitly identified rather than silently carried forward from older rankings.
Our approach never chases short-term hype. Instead, our analysts, supported by AI, carefully select recommendations designed to build portfolios that compound over the long term. Investors must be prepared to position themselves and hold through market volatility to realize sustained growth and achieve their financial goals.
Data note: Expense ratios, assets, holdings, prices, performance and portfolio weights change over time. Readers should verify current figures on the ETF issuer's website and current prospectus before making an investment decision.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, financial, tax or legal advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. ETFs can lose money, including substantial portions of invested capital. Investors should conduct their own research and consider consulting a qualified financial professional before making investment decisions.
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