There is no question that 2026 is already set up to be something of a continuance of 2025, at least in the sense of moving deeper into the world of AI, automation, and robotics. As companies deploy AI at scale and industrial robots continue to replace human labor slowly, chip manufacturers can’t keep up with demand, and the hype isn’t really hype anymore, as it’s infrastructure being built in real time.
The challenge for investors isn’t that these aren’t necessarily income plays at this point, and you aren’t likely to live off dividends from AI companies anytime in the near future. Instead, making the move into investments with AI and robotics ETFs is hopefully setting yourself up for the next wave of economic growth.
These five ETFs capture different angles of the supercycle we’re currently in, from pure-play AI to humanoid robotics, and they are best for investors with capital that can be put in risky investments with the hope of being exposed to the fastest-growing sectors in the economy.
Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF
The Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF (NYSE:CHAT) is home to 49 different holdings that are on the cutting edge of generative AI. The top holdings include big names like Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL), NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Meta (NASDAQ:META), all names that are the foundation for everything else running in the AI world. Rest assured, this is as concentrated as you can get with AI exposure.
The trade-off here is also an obvious one in that if Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF delivers, it’s because AI has delivered. On the other hand, if sentiment shifts or valuations fall, this ETF can fall hard as well. With a P/E ratio of 31.60, you’re paying a significant premium for growth, which is also something to keep in mind.
Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF
Taking a broad approach to the market, the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (NASDAQ:AIQ) holds companies that are building AI applications. The 0.18% yield is negligible, at least for the moment, but the 75.58% dividend payout ratio is equally important, as underlying companies are rapidly increasing payouts as AI revenue scales.
Holding 50+ companies across multiple sectors also means that AIQ is less volatile than a pure AI play. The upside is that it can still capture explosive growth as long as AI deployment continues to accelerate. Semi-annual payouts provide minimal income, but the real money is in price appreciation right now and dividends in the future.
ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF
For the moment, the ROBO Global Robotics & Automation Index ETF (NYSE:ROBO) is one of the best pure-growth robotics ETFs you can look at today. The fund is focused on companies building the robots themselves, not just the underlying AI that is powering them, making it a more concentrated play on hardware.
The dividend only arrives once annually, with $0.29 announced on 12/29/2025, while 2024 was at $0.30, so there are some stability indicators as well. If you believe robotics adoption is going to accelerate, this is a pure conviction play, but you have to really believe it’s going to be a dominant economic story in the near future.
Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF
The Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (NASDAQ:BOTZ) is a strong ETF option for investors seeking to combine AI and robotics investments in companies automating manufacturing, logistics, and services.
With a 0.22% yield and 68.36% dividend growth, the Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF is positioned for both income growth and capital appreciation as robots become essential infrastructure, thanks to its full ecosystem holdings.
KraneShares Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF
The KraneShares Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF (NASDAQ:KOID) is an emerging option for those interested in making investments into a number of companies focused on things like humanoid robots.
The hope is that the KraneShares Global Humanoid and Embodied Intelligence Index ETF is capturing early opportunities with its holdings, focusing on companies that are betting on humanoid robots becoming as common as forklifts in warehouses. The 0.83% yield is nominal for right now, but the portfolio is undoubtedly positioned as a multi-year growth story if humanoid robots move from sci-fi to supply chain reality.