AI is everywhere. You can't even open a toaster manual these days without seeing a "smart" logo. But for investors, the real question isn't whether AI is cool—it's who is actually making money from it. That’s where the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF AIQ comes in. Honestly, it’s been a wild ride for this fund lately.
While everyone else was chasing the same three stocks in 2024 and 2025, AIQ quietly diversified into the "picks and shovels" of the digital gold rush. It doesn't just buy the flashy chatbot companies. It buys the memory chip makers in Korea, the server giants in the US, and the software firms in China.
What’s Actually Inside the AIQ Portfolio?
Most people think an AI fund is basically just a wrapper for Nvidia. You'd be surprised. As of mid-January 2026, Nvidia (NVDA) isn't even the top dog here. The index it follows—the Indxx Artificial Intelligence & Big Data Index—uses a unique scoring system that prioritizes companies based on how much they actually benefit from AI, not just their stock price momentum.
Right now, Samsung Electronics is sitting at the top of the pile, making up about 5.15% of the fund. Why? Because you can’t run a massive Large Language Model (LLM) without high-bandwidth memory (HBM). Samsung and SK Hynix (another top 10 holding) basically own that market.
Check out the current heavy hitters as of early 2026:
🔗 Read more: OnePlus Home Screen: The Setup Tricks Nobody Tells You
- Alphabet (GOOGL): Dominating at roughly 4.3% thanks to the Gemini 3 integration into the Apple ecosystem.
- Advanced Micro Devices (AMD): Holding a larger spot (3.6%) than Nvidia in many rebalance cycles because of its value-to-exposure ratio.
- Tencent & Alibaba: Providing that crucial "rest of the world" exposure that most US-centric tech funds miss.
It’s a global mix. You've got about 73% in the US, but the rest is scattered across South Korea, China, and Germany. This isn't just a Silicon Valley bet.
Performance: Is It Worth the 0.68% Fee?
Let's talk money. AIQ isn't the cheapest ETF on the block. With an expense ratio of 0.68%, you’re paying $68 a year for every $10,000 invested. Compared to a generic tech fund like XLK (which charges around 0.09%), that feels steep.
But look at the scoreboard.
In 2025, the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF AIQ clocked a total return of over 32%. Some months were insane—September 2025 saw a 9.5% jump. It basically outperformed the S&P 500 by a massive margin.
The fund has grown to over $7.8 billion in assets because it captures the infrastructure of AI. When the "hype" stocks pull back, the companies building the actual data centers—like Oracle and Broadcom—tend to provide a bit of a floor.
The "Siri-Gemini" Factor
One of the biggest drivers for AIQ in early 2026 has been the massive partnership between Apple and Google. Since AIQ holds both, it caught the tailwind when Google’s Gemini 3 started powering the "new" Siri.
This is the "AI Utility" phase. We’re moving past the "look what this bot can write" stage into the "this is how I run my entire phone/business" stage. AIQ is positioned specifically for this shift. It holds Palantir, which is basically the OS for modern military and corporate intelligence, and Salesforce, which is pivoting hard into autonomous AI agents.
Why Some Investors Stay Away
It's not all rainbows. The dividend yield is basically non-existent—around 0.18%. If you're looking for passive income, this is the wrong neighborhood. It’s a pure growth play.
Also, the volatility is real. The fund dropped nearly 6% in November 2025 during a brief tech sell-off. Because it's "non-diversified" (meaning it can put a lot of weight into a few sectors), if the semiconductor industry sneezes, AIQ catches a cold.
Key Metrics to Keep an Eye On:
- P/E Ratio: Currently sitting around 24.7. It's not "cheap," but compared to the 35+ P/E ratios seen in some robotics-only funds, it’s somewhat grounded.
- Rebalancing: They do this twice a year (May and November). If a stock gets too "meme-y" and loses its fundamental AI tie, it gets the boot.
- The Competition: Funds like BOTZ focus more on physical robots. AIQ is about the brains (software and big data).
Actionable Next Steps
If you’re thinking about jumping into the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF AIQ, don't just dump all your cash in at once.
👉 See also: That Surface UEFI Hard Drive Icon With an X: What It Really Means and How to Fix It
First, check your current overlap. If you already own a lot of QQQ or VGT, you might be doubling up on Alphabet and Microsoft more than you realize. Use a portfolio X-ray tool to see your "true" exposure.
Second, consider a dollar-cost averaging approach. AI is a decade-long trend, but the entry points matter. Given that AIQ is trading near its 52-week highs (around $52-$53), wait for a 5% pullback—which happens more often than you'd think in tech—to start a position.
Third, keep an eye on the memory cycle. Since Samsung and Micron are such big parts of this fund, their quarterly earnings will move the needle for AIQ just as much as an Nvidia announcement will.
👉 See also: iPhone 16 có chống nước không: Sự thật về chỉ số IP68 mà Apple không nói hết với bạn
The "AI revolution" isn't a single event; it's a slow integration into every piece of hardware we touch. AIQ is effectively a bet on that integration. It’s less about the "next big thing" and more about the "everything, everywhere" of technology.
Actionable Insight: Review the fund's semi-annual report released every June and December. Pay close attention to the "Top 10 Holdings" shift. If you see "Enterprise Software" growing while "Semiconductors" shrink, the fund is moving from the build-out phase to the implementation phase. Adjust your risk tolerance accordingly.