What if some of the biggest opportunities in artificial intelligence sit beyond the obvious mega-cap technology names?
In this episode of the Australian Investors Podcast, Owen Rask speaks with Arelis Agosto, Director of Research & Strategy at Global X, about thematic investing and the structural megatrends reshaping markets over the next 10 to 15 years.
Arelis explains why the AI boom differs from the dot-com bubble, including the revenue growth already emerging across the ecosystem. They trace the expected $6.7 trillion AI infrastructure buildout through data centres, semiconductors, networking, cooling and energy, before exploring the supply constraints that could make copper, uranium and rare earths increasingly important.
The conversation then moves to the application layer. Arelis outlines how AI could transform drug discovery, healthcare, cybersecurity, cloud computing, robotics, humanoids and autonomous vehicles. She also explains why rising electricity demand and grid investment may prove essential: without the power and infrastructure, the most exciting AI applications cannot become reality.
Finally, Owen and Arelis discuss what thematic investing means for portfolio construction. With the top 10 companies representing about 40% of the S&P 500, many investors already have substantial exposure to dominant themes through broad-market funds. The challenge is identifying which complementary opportunities are underrepresented, while avoiding unnecessary concentration.
This episode offers a practical framework for looking past the headlines, understanding where AI spending flows and investing through long-term change while staying comfortable with uncertainty.
