How to Invest in AI: Artificial Intelligence Stocks & ETFs

Some of the most valuable publicly traded companies — NVIDIA, Microsoft, Alphabet, and Amazon — are simultaneously some of the largest players in artificial intelligence. Yet AI investment opportunities extend far beyond these household names, spanning the entire value chain from semiconductor manufacturers to cloud infrastructure providers and enterprise software platforms.

The AI value chain breaks down into several distinct layers, each with its own set of publicly traded companies:

• Semiconductors & Hardware: NVIDIA (NVDA) designs the GPUs that power AI training and inference, while Broadcom (AVGO) develops custom AI chips for multiple hyperscalers.
• Chip Manufacturing & Equipment: TSMC (TSM), the world’s largest pure-play semiconductor foundry, manufactures the advanced AI chips designed by NVIDIA and others. ASML (ASML) is the only major producer of the extreme ultraviolet lithography equipment needed to fabricate these chips.
• Cloud & Software Platforms: Microsoft offers Azure cloud services and its Copilot AI assistant. Amazon integrates AI across its business and provides machine learning services through AWS. Alphabet has invested in artificial intelligence for more than a decade, including its acquisition of DeepMind in 2014.
• Enterprise AI & Data Analytics: Palantir (PLTR) launched its Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP), while Oracle (ORCL) has shifted its focus toward cloud infrastructure to attract AI workloads. Adobe (ADBE) integrates generative AI through its Firefly model across creative tools.

It’s worth noting that several high-profile AI companies — including OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI — remain privately held and are not directly available to retail investors through public stock exchanges.

For those seeking broader exposure, several ETFs track the AI theme. The Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ), established in May 2018, passively tracks roughly 84 companies. BlackRock offers both the iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (ARTY) for passive exposure and the iShares A.I. Innovation & Tech Active ETF (BAI) with active management. The Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF (CHAT), launched in May 2023, focuses specifically on companies deriving at least half their revenue from generative AI. You can find a full breakdown on our dedicated AI ETF page.

AI applications reach well beyond technology companies into healthcare, financial services, automotive, retail, agriculture, and manufacturing — making it a theme that cuts across traditional sector boundaries.

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The table below lists prominent AI-focused stocks and ETFs with live market data, covering everything from semiconductor designers to cloud providers and thematic funds.