Artificial intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming a game-changer across industries, transforming everything from healthcare and finance to how we shop, get around and consume entertainment.
Plus, AI is helping tackle big global challenges, like climate change and cybersecurity, giving businesses a competitive edge with smarter insights and efficient operations.
What started as basic tools to mimic human problem-solving skills — like playing chess or checkers — has exploded into a game-changing field that’s set to impact almost every part of our lives.(1) Some estimates project the generative AI market reaching $1.3 trillion by 2032, up from just $40 billion in 2022.(2)
And investors are eager to tap into this rapidly growing industry.
For regular investors, gaining portfolio exposure to AI is possible in several ways.
Researching and choosing your own AI stocks is one option. Still, it requires a detailed research, analysis and decision-making process to identify potentially profitable investments, which can be time-consuming.
Thematic investing saves time by presenting curated groups of stocks aligned with major, long-term global trends or themes, such as AI. Thematic investing shows you which stocks are AI-related, regardless of sector or industry, and you can invest accordingly based on your investment objectives and risk tolerance.
Alternatively, managed funds provide a hands-off approach to gaining exposure to AI.
Investors can use thematic investing to find cheap AI stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds they might normally miss when starting their research from scratch.
Brokers that offer thematic investing do the research to find stocks relevant to each theme — in this case, AI — that span different sectors and industries.
Then, depending on the broker, you can either:
Opto is a commission-free thematic investing platform that leverages AI to analyze over 10,000 US-listed stocks and ETFs, categorizing them into over 50 relevant themes, including AI, robotics and more.
This AI-driven classification system enables investors to explore the stocks and ETFs within specific themes, assess their performance and invest with as little as $5.
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Trade commission-free stocks and ETFs, and spot emerging trends through thematic investing.
Similarly, Charles Schwab offers over 40 thematic stock lists, each comprising up to 25 research-backed stocks. Customers can invest directly in these themes or customize them to align with their investment strategies.
Additionally, platforms like Fidelity and E*TRADE provide access to thematic ETFs, allowing investors to gain exposure to specific sectors or trends through diversified funds.
Managed funds, including ETFs, mutual funds and index funds, offer a hands-off approach to gaining exposure to AI without selecting individual stocks. They’re professionally structured and often focus on various companies involved in AI development, implementation and innovation.
Funds like the ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (ARKQ) focus on companies driving innovation in AI, robotics and autonomous technology. They offer active management, which means you benefit from professional insight, but they have higher expense ratios than passive funds, which can impact returns over time.
On the other hand, passive index funds like the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ) track a specific AI-related index, such as those covering companies involved in AI, machine learning and related tech fields.
Unlike actively managed funds, index funds automatically adjust to match the components of a specific index and don’t rely on active stock picking.
Investing in individual AI stocks is an option for those who want to get hands-on and focus on companies they believe in. When you choose specific AI stocks, you pick which AI businesses, technologies or innovations align most with your investment goals.
But going this route requires time and research.
Here’s how to dive into individual AI stocks and what to look for.
Big players like Microsoft (MSFT), Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN) and Nvidia (NVDA) are at the forefront of AI. These companies are integrating AI into everything from cloud services to consumer products, and investing in these well-established names is a way to tap into AI without the wild swings of smaller startups.
Smaller companies solely focused on AI, such as C3.ai (AI), UiPath (PATH) and Veritone (VERI), are considered “pure-play” stocks. These companies may have higher growth potential, but they’re usually more volatile than big tech companies, so they can be a bit of a roller coaster.
If you’re interested in what drives AI tech behind the scenes, look at companies like Intel (INTC) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). They supply the processors and infrastructure essential for AI to run smoothly, exposing you to the hardware backbone of AI.
For investors looking to get in on the ground floor of promising AI startups, venture capital (VC) and private equity (PE) offer a unique way to tap into high-growth potential companies before they go public.
Unlike traditional stock investments, venture capital and private equity involve investing directly in private companies, often in the early stages of development.
This approach requires a higher risk tolerance but can lead to significant rewards if the startups succeed in the rapidly evolving AI space.
For regular investors, platforms like SoFi Invest® and Fundrise offer access to interval funds and tender-offer funds — types of closed-end funds — providing exposure to private and public AI companies.
Investing in AI offers exciting opportunities but also comes with specific challenges you should consider.
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