Artificial intelligence (“AI”) is one of the stock market’s hottest trends in 2026, but investors may find it difficult to build a portfolio of AI companies. It’s a fast-developing area that requires a lot of technical expertise, and many of the leaders are still private companies.
One solution is to invest in the best AI exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”), which have generated strong returns for years – without investors needing to pick winning stocks.
AI is one of the most exciting areas of business, with the potential to rapidly increase productivity. Companies are incorporating AI into a wide range of devices and processes, helping revenue explode in a variety of sectors, notably the semiconductor industry.
While everyone knows the big tech stocks such as Nvidia (NVDA)and Microsoft (MSFT), even smaller companies can offer huge upside in the AI boom, too. ETFs do the analysis and legwork, so you don’t need to.
That’s really the biggest advantage of using ETFs to simplify your investing life. These funds take the hard work out of playing the stock market’s supertrends. You won’t need to spend the time and energy analyzing dozens of companies. A good AI fund also diversifies your holdings, meaning even a losing stock doesn’t hurt your overall performance too much.
The best AI ETFs give investors of all types a quick and easy way to invest in companies profiting from the AI boom. Here are seven of the best AI ETFs.
7 Top AI ETFs to Invest in for 2026
The best AI funds offer a variety of different investments in stocks benefiting from the AI gold rush, as investors wait for top AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic to go public.
Most of the ETFs below are index funds, meaning they passively track a specific stock index.
| Fund (ticker) | One-year return | Three-year annualized return | Expense ratio |
| iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (ARTY) | 72.6% | 17.3% | 0.47% |
| Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF (IGPT) | 67.9% | 21.6% | 0.56% |
| VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) | 119.7% | 47.1% | 0.35% |
| Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ) | 47.7% | 25.9% | 0.68% |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) | 119.7% | 35.6% | 0.34% |
| Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF (CHAT) | 111.7% | 39.2%* | 0.75% |
| WisdomTree Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Fund (WTAI) | 76.9% | 21.4% | 0.45% |
Source: Data from Morningstar, as of April 7, 2026 *From the fund’s inception in May 2023
How MarketWise Selected These Funds
MarketWise chose its best AI ETFs based on the following criteria:
Funds with exposure to AI-related industries
- Funds with more than a year of strong returns, and ideally several years
- A low expense ratio
- No leveraged or inverse funds
1. iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (ARTY)
This fund tracks the Morningstar Global Artificial Intelligence Select Index, which includes U.S. and international stocks. Its investments focus on generative AI, AI data and infrastructure, and AI software and services.
Top holdings: Marvell Technology (MRVL), CoreWeave (CRWV), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM)
2. Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF (IGPT)
This fund tracks the STOXX World AC NexGen Software Development Index, which includes firms that contribute to future software development. Its portfolio consists of about 100 stocks.
Top holdings: Alphabet (GOOGL), Nvidia, SK Hynix, Micron Technology (MU), Meta Platforms (META)
3. VanEck Semiconductor ETF Fund (SMH)
A semiconductor-themed ETF? Yes, chip companies play an integral role in powering the AI boom. This fund tracks the MVIS U.S. Listed Semiconductor 25 Index, which includes 25 semiconductor production and equipment companies. This fund is also featured on our list of the best semiconductor ETFs.
Top holdings: Nvidia, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Broadcom (AVGO), Advanced Micro Devices, ASML (ASML)
4. Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ)
This fund tracks the Indxx Artificial Intelligence & Big Data Index, owning U.S. and foreign companies that benefit from AI. So, the fund invests in companies that directly produce AI technology as well as those that are using it to improve their own business.
Top holdings: Netflix (NFLX), Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Cisco Systems (CSCO), Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
5. iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX)
Another chip-themed offering, this passively managed fund tracks the NYSE Semiconductor Index, which includes the 30 largest U.S.-listed semiconductor stocks by market cap.
Top holdings: Nvidia, Broadcom, Micron Technology, Advanced Micro Devices, Applied Materials (AMAT)
MORE: Nvidia is rarely this undervalued
6. Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF (CHAT)
This actively managed fund invests in companies across the world, not just U.S.-listed names, with about one-third (by market capitalization) of its 40-plus positions in non-domestic investments. The fund opened in May 2023, and management says it’s “the first ETF globally focused on providing exposure to companies developing generative artificial intelligence and related technologies.”
Top holdings: Alphabet, Nvidia, Knowledge Atlas Technology, MiniMax, Microsoft
7. WisdomTree Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Fund (WTAI)
This passively managed fund tracks the WisdomTree Artificial Intelligence & Innovation Index, which includes companies offering AI technology and those using it in their business. Its portfolio has more than 60 stock positions.
Top holdings: Amazon (AMZN), Alphabet, Nvidia, Samsung Electronics, Meta Platforms
Regards,
James Royal
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