Betting on the way forward for human-like machines, New York-based Roundhill Investments filed a prospectus with the U.S. Securities and Trade Fee to launch a Humanoid Robotics ETF.
If permitted, the fund would expose traders to corporations on the forefront of humanoid robotics, a quickly evolving space of synthetic intelligence.
Humanoid robotics refers to robots that resemble and performance equally to people. These robots usually have a human-like construction, together with a head, torso, arms, and legs. Examples of humanoid robots embody Tesla’s Optimus, and Boston Dynamics Atlas robots.
In accordance with the submitting, the Humanoid Robotics Fund would make investments primarily in fairness securities of corporations that Roundhill considers leaders in humanoid robotics—both by having developed absolutely purposeful business robots, transferring towards business manufacturing, or supplying important applied sciences used of their improvement.
“Below regular circumstances, the Fund invests at the least 80% of its internet belongings plus borrowings for funding functions in Humanoid Robotics Corporations,” the prospectus stated.
Roundhill, based in 2018, is thought for thematic ETFs. The Humanoid Robotics ETF would be a part of its lineup of area of interest tech funds, together with these centered on generative AI, the metaverse, video video games, and Bitcoin and Ethereum-covered Technique ETFs. The agency didn’t specify which change the brand new ETF would commerce on.
The corporate didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Whereas a number of ETFs deal with robotics and AI are available on the market, together with the International X Robotics & Synthetic Intelligence ETF (BOTZ) and the ROBO International Robotics & Automation Index ETF (ROBO), none are at present devoted solely to humanoid robots.
Roundhill acknowledged a number of danger elements within the prospectus, together with restricted business availability, operational or staffing challenges, international and regulatory pressures, AI and robotics improvement in China, and a excessive danger of product obsolescence because the business progresses.
“The event and commercialization of fully-functional humanoid robots contain complicated and evolving applied sciences, which can face unexpected technical challenges, regulatory hurdles, and market acceptance points,” the prospectus stated. “In consequence, investments in Humanoid Robotics Corporations could also be topic to increased ranges of danger and volatility.”
The Roundhill Humanoid Robotics ETF arrives amid a surge in curiosity in general-purpose robotics as corporations like Tesla, Nvidia, OpenMind, Boston Dynamics, and Determine AI race to deliver humanoid machines to market.
In 2023, the worldwide humanoid robotics market was valued at $2.21 billion, in line with market analysis firm S & S Insider, that quantity is anticipated to surpass $76 billion by 2032.
Editor’s be aware: This story was corrected to notice that the prospectus has certainly been filed with the SEC.
Typically Clever E-newsletter
A weekly AI journey narrated by Gen, a generative AI mannequin.
