How to actually invest in AI

You have probably used a chatbot. You have definitely heard that AI is going to change everything. What nobody explains is how investing in AI works.

Here is the thing about "investing in AI." There is no single AI company. You cannot buy a share of The Artificial Intelligence Corporation, because it does not exist.

What exists instead is a long chain of very different businesses, each doing one job. Some make the physical chips. Some write the software. Some build power plants. Some make the app on your phone. They all need each other, and they do not all win at the same time.

The good news is that you do not have to correctly guess which single company wins. You can own a slice of the whole chain instead.

Think of AI as a building with four floors using ETFs.

The four floors of AI

Each floor does a different job. Here is what the Beanstox AI Portfolio holds, floor by floor.

1. Chips and memory (BAI ETF)

AI runs on physical hardware. Not just the famous processors, but memory chips too, which are basically the notebooks AI scribbles in while it thinks. See the fund

2. Data and software (AIQ ETF)

AI is useless without enormous piles of organized information, plus the software that sorts it. See the fund

3. Power and electricity (AIPO ETF)

The least glamorous floor, and possibly the most necessary. Data centers are hungry for power, so somebody has to build the grid, the turbines and the buildings. Many companies in this ETF focus on this. See the fund

4. Chatbots and applications (CHAT ETF)

The companies that build models and platforms behind the tools you use, from the big names like Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon to newer model builders you have probably never heard of. See the fund

Why the long game is important

Nobody knows which segment of the AI economy will perform best over time. Guessing right is hard, even for the pros. Owning several parts of the AI economy means you do not have to guess.

But here is the part that often trips people up. Patience is needed so investors should think long-term. Share prices do not climb in a straight line, they go up and down.

Illustration of the shape of long term investing, not a forecast. The line shows no specific fund, no actual returns and no projected returns. Real results can be worse than this, including losing money over long stretches.

Notice the dips. They are not a bug in the drawing, they are the whole reason patience may be rewarded. If you add a small amount on a regular schedule, those dips are where your money quietly buys more shares than usual. You do not have to be clever about timing. You just have to keep showing up and invest for the long term.

A word about the risks

Blog posts about AI should also mention risks. Here are a few:

Prices are already optimistic

Some AI stocks in these ETFs trade at high valuations meaning stock prices are high compared to the company metrics like sales or earnings. High expectations are already baked in, which could leave less room for good news and more room for disappointment.

These funds are concentrated on purpose

Investing in an AI portfolio could mean concentration in certain stocks or industries which means less "diversification".

The swings can be large

Tech and growth stocks in AI related industries may experience bigger price swings.

Is AI in a bubble?

The honest answer on whether AI is in a bubble is that nobody knows yet.

How to think about investing in AI

Four rules of thumb:

  • Only invest money you will not need soon. If you might need it inside of five years, you could consider a lower risk option like one of the conservative Beanstox Wealth Builder portfolio or Beanstox Power Savings.

  • Small and regular beats big and dramatic. Investing a set amount on a schedule takes the guesswork out and helps build your AI investment over time.

  • A theme is a side dish. An AI portfolio is a slice of a bigger plan, not the whole plan. Consider starting with a Traditional IRA or Wealth Builder account and using AI as a complement.

  • Expect the drops. Deciding now that you will sit through them is one of the most useful thing you can do today.

You can start the non-discretionnary Beanstox AI Portfolio with $10. Start small and grow over time.


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Invest without stress. Easier than a walk in the park. No stock picking, no market timing and no experience needed.

Copyright © 2026 Beanstox. All Rights Reserved

Check Out the Beanstox App

Invest without stress. Easier than a walk in the park. No stock picking, no market timing and no experience needed.

Copyright © 2026 Beanstox. All Rights Reserved

Check Out the Beanstox App

Invest without stress. Easier than a walk in the park. No stock picking, no market timing and no experience needed.

Copyright © 2026 Beanstox. All Rights Reserved

Check Out the Beanstox App

Invest without stress. Easier than a walk in the park. No stock picking, no market timing and no experience needed.

Copyright © 2026 Beanstox. All Rights Reserved