Xtrackers Artificial Intelligence and Big Data ETF (XAIX) offers AI exposure at a competitive 0.35% fee by screening companies for active innovation in AI fields rather than relying solely on current revenue.

What happened: XAIX is a passive ETF tracking the Nasdaq Global Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Index, which uses a patent-based screening process to identify companies actively engaged in AI-related fields such as deep learning, natural language processing, image and speech recognition, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, and big data systems. The fund launched in August 2024 and has grown to approximately $152 million（約240億円） in assets under management.

Why it matters: Many AI ETFs charge 0.60%, 0.70%, or even 0.80% annually, creating meaningful drag on returns over time. XAIX's 0.35% expense ratio is considerably more reasonable for a thematic ETF. The fund also applies an intensity score to evaluate how extensively a company is involved across multiple AI-related technology domains, aiming to identify future winners based on innovation efforts rather than relying exclusively on trailing revenue figures or historical financial statements.

What to watch: For a $10,000 investment, XAIX would incur approximately $35 per year in fee drag. The ETF's forward-looking methodology attempts to identify companies actively building the next generation of AI technologies; however, the sector remains volatile and valuations can become stretched.