Global X: The Next Big Theme
Technology, Infrastructure and Innovation Continue to Shape the Next Investment Themes
Several long-term investment themes are gaining momentum as artificial intelligence, infrastructure development, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies reshape industries around the world.
From the massive power requirements of data centers to advances in personalized medicine and robotics, innovation is increasingly influencing where companies invest capital and where new economic opportunities may emerge.
AI Is Driving an Infrastructure Buildout
Artificial intelligence is no longer simply a software story. The rapid expansion of AI is creating demand for physical infrastructure, including data centers, electrical equipment, power generation, cooling systems and construction services.
Data center construction spending has increased significantly as technology companies continue investing in computing capacity. These facilities require enormous amounts of electricity and specialized equipment, creating opportunities throughout the broader infrastructure supply chain.
The trend also highlights a growing challenge: building AI infrastructure can take time. Equipment shortages, utility connections, labor availability and construction costs can all slow projects.
As companies continue investing heavily in AI, infrastructure spending could remain an important part of the technology growth story.
Artificial Intelligence Expands Beyond Chips
The AI industry continues to evolve rapidly.
Early growth centered heavily on semiconductors and computing power. Increasingly, however, attention is expanding toward AI software, models, developer platforms and enterprise applications.
Businesses are experimenting with AI across areas such as customer service, research, software development, data analysis and automation.
As adoption expands, the companies supporting the entire AI ecosystem—from computing infrastructure to software platforms—may become increasingly important.
Defense Supply Chains Become a Strategic Priority
Governments are also focusing greater attention on domestic manufacturing and supply chains for strategically important materials and technologies.
Critical minerals, battery materials and specialized components are essential for many modern defense systems, including aircraft, sensors, communications equipment and advanced weapons systems.
Efforts to strengthen domestic production could lead to additional investment in mining, processing, manufacturing and industrial infrastructure.
The broader trend reflects growing interest in securing critical supply chains rather than relying heavily on overseas production.
The Commercial Space Economy Continues to Grow
Private investment and government policy are also helping expand the commercial space economy.
More frequent rocket launches and improved launch infrastructure could eventually make access to space more economical.
That could support industries ranging from satellite communications and Earth observation to navigation, research and national security.
Expanding launch capacity remains an important part of that development. As infrastructure improves, commercial space applications may become increasingly practical and accessible.
Personalized Medicine Reaches New Milestones
Healthcare innovation is another area attracting attention.
Researchers continue exploring treatments that use genetic information to customize therapies for individual patients. Recent advances in mRNA technology and genomic sequencing demonstrate how medicine could become increasingly personalized.
Rather than relying entirely on treatments designed for broad patient populations, future therapies may increasingly target the specific genetic characteristics of a disease.
These developments could have implications across biotechnology, pharmaceutical research, diagnostics and genomic technology.
Robotics Moves Closer to the Physical World
Artificial intelligence is also moving beyond computers and into physical environments.
AI-powered robots and automated equipment are being tested in laboratories, factories and other industrial settings. Advances in software are allowing machines to perform increasingly complex tasks while coordinating with other equipment.
Humanoid robotics is another emerging area attracting significant investment.
Although widespread commercial adoption remains relatively early, robotics combined with AI could eventually transform manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, research and other industries.
Watching the Bigger Picture
Innovation rarely develops in isolation.
Artificial intelligence requires power infrastructure. Advanced robotics depends on sophisticated computing. Personalized medicine relies on genomic sequencing and data analysis. Space exploration requires advanced manufacturing and communications systems.
Together, these trends demonstrate how technology, infrastructure and industrial investment are becoming increasingly interconnected.
For investors, understanding these relationships can help provide context around the structural changes influencing markets and the global economy.
As always, emerging technologies can involve significant uncertainty and investment risk. Long-term trends may create opportunities, but individual technologies, industries and companies can experience substantial volatility along the way.
Source: Global X ETFs, “The Next Big Theme: September 2026.”
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