BetaShares Global Robotics and AI ETF (RBTZ) — Review & Analysis

RBTZ is one of Australia's longest-running thematic ETFs in the robotics and AI space, with $329 million in assets as at May 2026. Betashares launched RBTZ in September 2018 — well before the post-ChatGPT AI boom — making it one of the few ASX-listed thematic ETFs with a meaningful 5-year track record. The fund tracks the Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index, holding approximately 40 companies developing or deploying robotics, industrial automation, and AI technologies. The management fee is 0.57% per annum.

To compare RBTZ side-by-side with every other ETF on the ASX, see the full ETF directory.

RBTZ holds a mix of industrial automation incumbents and software/AI growth names. As at May 2026, top holdings include Nvidia, Intuitive Surgical, ABB Group, Keyence Corporation, Fanuc Corporation, Yaskawa Electric, Mitsubishi Electric, John Bean Technologies, Cognex and Rockwell Automation. Geographic exposure includes Japan (~30%), US (~50%), Switzerland (~10%) and Germany (~5%) — meaningfully more diversified globally than GXAI. Over the 5 years to May 2026, RBTZ returned +26.2% total return — well behind tech-heavy NDQ (+126.6%) but ahead of broad industrial benchmarks.

RBTZ pays distributions semi-annually (late June and late December) at minimal yield — around 0.5-1.0% gross as at May 2026. RBTZ is currency-unhedged. The fund includes meaningful exposure to Japanese industrial automation companies that don't appear in pure AI funds — companies like Fanuc, Keyence and Yaskawa that have been quietly building industrial robotic systems for decades and benefit from the "physical AI" theme (humanoid robots, factory automation, warehouse robots).

RBTZ is a more diversified thematic alternative to GXAI — particularly suited to investors who believe in industrial automation and physical AI, not just data-center AI. Position size 2-5% as a satellite. RBTZ's longer track record gives it more credibility than newer launches but its broader robotics focus means it has missed some of the explosive returns of pure-AI plays. A $10,000 investment in RBTZ at its September 2018 launch (with all distributions reinvested) would be worth roughly $15,500 as at May 2026 — an annualised return of about 6.0% per year over the 7.5-year period. Reasonable but not exceptional.