3 Artificial Intelligence ETFs to Buy With $100 and Hold Forever

The piece recommends three ETFs—Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology (AIQ), Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence (BOTZ) and iShares Future AI & Tech (ARTY)—as efficient ways to gain diversified exposure to leading AI, semiconductor and robotics names (Nvidia, Microsoft, Alphabet, Intuitive Surgical, AMD, Arista, Broadcom) without taking single-stock risk; AIQ holds ~90 global stocks and has returned about 117% over three years (expense ratio 0.68%) versus the S&P 500’s 63%, BOTZ (49 holdings) is robotics- and automation-focused with a three-year gain near 68% (0.68% fee), and ARTY offers 48 AI/tech holdings and a lower fee (0.47%) but has slightly underperformed the S&P (~61%); investors should weigh fund scope, fees and the sustainability of past outperformance when allocating to AI/robotics exposure (the article notes Broadcom’s recent ~$10B semiconductor deal as a relevant catalyst).

Analysis

The article recommends three ETFs — Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology (AIQ), Global X Robotics & Artificial Intelligence (BOTZ) and iShares Future AI and Tech (ARTY) — as convenient, sub-$100 entry points to diversified exposure in AI, semiconductors and robotics. It highlights large holdings such as Nvidia, Microsoft, Alphabet, Intuitive Surgical, AMD, Arista and Broadcom (the latter tied to a reported ~$10 billion semiconductor deal) as drivers of index-level performance and investor interest.

AIQ holds roughly 90 global names and has returned about 117% over three years versus the S&P 500’s 63%, charging a 0.68% expense ratio; BOTZ covers 49 robotics/automation companies, gained ~68% over three years with a 0.68% fee; ARTY holds 48 companies, charges 0.47% and has returned ~61% over three years, slightly underperforming the S&P. The piece notes industry growth assumptions (UBS’s projection of 2 million humanoid robots within a decade to 300 million by 2050 and a $1.7 trillion market) and reports a moderately positive sentiment signal (0.45) with strong per-ticker enthusiasm for Nvidia (0.7) and Broadcom (0.6).

These ETFs offer diversification relative to single-stock risk, but higher expense ratios and concentration in mega-cap AI leaders are material drivers of returns; the article also discloses Motley Fool positions and recommendations in many mentioned names, which readers should consider when assessing the commentary. Investors should therefore weigh fee differentials, three-year performance dispersion, and thematic vs. core allocation when incorporating AI/robotics ETFs into portfolios.

Key Decisions for Investors

• Consider a tactical allocation to AIQ to capture higher historical growth from broad AI exposure (3‑year +117%) but limit position size to account for its 0.68% expense ratio and concentration in mega-cap AI names
• Use BOTZ for targeted robotics/automation exposure if you have a multi-year horizon given UBS’s long-term market estimates, but keep allocations modest because robotics is a long-duration theme
• Prefer ARTY as a lower-cost core ETF play (0.47% fee) for diversified AI/tech exposure, monitor its rolling performance versus the S&P (ARTY ~61% vs S&P ~63% over three years) and re-evaluate if underperformance persists
• Monitor key catalysts and risks — developments around Nvidia and Broadcom’s semiconductor deal, fund flows, and fee drag — and use these ETFs to avoid single-stock idiosyncrasy while implementing rebalancing or hedges if AI leaders materially sell off