Artificial Intelligence
Tech Giants Continue to Execute and Expand on Their AI Visions
Meta AI surpassed 1 billion monthly active users across platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The milestone follows the April rollout of a standalone Meta AI app. Integrated across Meta’s ecosystem, the assistant powers features such as search, messaging, and content recommendations. Meta plans to grow the product before building a formal business around it and monetizing it through subscription services and advertising.1 Salesforce announced its largest deal since acquiring Slack in 2021, agreeing to purchase data management firm Informatica for approximately $8 billion in cash. Salesforce aims to increase its agentic AI capabilities, particularly its Agentforce platform, by integrating Informatica’s robust data integration, governance, and management tools. The acquisition is expected to close early in Salesforce’s fiscal year 2027.2
Defense Tech
New EU Arms Fund Set to Bolster Europe’s Defense Posture
European Union (EU) ambassadors approved the €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defense lending scheme, a significant step toward enhancing the bloc’s military capabilities. Part of the broader ReArm Europe program, SAFE allows member states to borrow funds from the EU to procure military equipment, aiming to strengthen Europe’s defense posture in response to perceived threats, particularly from Russia. The scheme stipulates that at least 65% of the value of procured weapons must originate from manufacturers within the EU, the European Economic Area, or Ukraine. However, up to 35% can involve non-EU entities, which facilitates broader participation while still prioritizing European defense industries.3 As Europe advances toward greater military self-sufficiency, we expect global defense expenditures to continue to rise, particularly for advanced defense tech. As spending works its way through the value chain, international defense stocks, especially in Europe, are likely to benefit.
Robotics & Artificial Intelligence
Warehouse and Humanoid Robots Make Significant Strides
Amazon introduced Vulcan, a new warehouse robot equipped with tactile sensing capabilities, a significant advancement in robotic automation. Vulcan features two arms: one designed to rearrange items within storage compartments, and another equipped with a camera and suction cup to grasp products. By using force sensors, Vulcan can detect when it contacts objects, which allows it to handle approximately 75% of Amazon’s inventory. Trained on physical data, including force and touch feedback, Vulcan is capable of self-improvement over time. The robot has been deployed at Amazon’s warehouses in Spokane, Washington, and Hamburg, Germany, where it has processed over 500,000 orders to date.4,5 Private AI development platform Hugging Face unveiled two open-source humanoid robots: HopeJR, a full-sized robot with 66 degrees of freedom capable of walking and manipulating objects, and Reachy Mini, a desktop unit designed for AI application testing. The company aims to make robotics more accessible with these units by pricing HopeJR at an estimated $3,000 and the Reachy Mini between $250 and 300.6
HealthTech
Global Expansion Heats up in Digital Health Space
U.S.-based telehealth provider Hims & Hers Health announced its acquisition of London-based digital health platform Zava. The deal, which is expected to close in mid-2025, will increase Hims & Hers Health’s active customer base by roughly 50%, adding over 1.3 million users across key markets including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Ireland. Zava offers digital consultations and prescriptions across categories like sexual health, dermatology, mental health, and weight-loss treatments, including access to branded GLP-1s such as Wegovy and Mounjaro. The deal comes as Hims & Hers adjusts to recent U.S. regulatory shifts restricting the compounding of weight-loss drugs, which had become a significant revenue stream. By expanding into Europe, the company aims to diversify its revenue sources and offer localized digital health services in areas such as dermatology, weight loss, sexual health, and mental health. The company plans to offer these services in local languages, leveraging Zava’s established European presence and technological capabilities.7
U.S. Electrification
Electricity Demand Forecast to Rise at Record Rates
After nearly two decades of stagnant growth, U.S. electricity demand is projected to increase 25% by 2030 and 78% by 2050 from 2023 levels, according to global advisory firm ICF International. Peak demand is expected to grow 14% by 2030 and 54% by 2050, further pressuring the nation’s grid. Residential retail electricity rates could rise 15–40% by 2030 depending on the region, adding urgency to ensure grid reliability, affordability, and sustainability. A coordinated, multifaceted strategy is essential to manage this rapid transformation in energy consumption. These forecasts far exceed previous ICF expectations, with the surge driven by AI, cloud computing, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and data center expansion. Meeting this type of demand requires major investments across a diverse energy mix, including renewables, nuclear power, and natural gas. Enhancing demand-side management programs—such as demand response, energy efficiency, and behind-the-meter solutions—is also critical. Efforts like these could meet more than 10% of total demand by 2030, up from 8% in 2025.8
Clean Water
Texas’ Water Infrastructure Push Aims to Adress Drought and Aging Systems
The Texas Legislature approved a comprehensive $20 billion plan to address the state’s escalating water crisis, driven by prolonged droughts and rapid population growth, as well as aging infrastructure, which received a low grade in the 2025 Infrastructure Report Card.9 The legislation comes at a critical time with over 6 million Texans living in drought-affected areas. Pending voter approval in November 2025, the proposed constitutional amendment would allocate $1 billion annually to water projects through 2047, including desalination, infrastructure repairs, conservation efforts, and flood mitigation. It would also support projects such as El Paso Water's $295 million water reuse facility, which is expected to be operational by 2028.10
THE NUMBERS
The following charts examine returns and sales growth expectations by theme, based on their corresponding ETFs or indices.
KEEP UP WITH THE LATEST RESEARCH FROM GLOBAL X
To learn more about the disruptive themes changing our world, read the latest research from Global X, including:
- Inflection Points: Rethinking Your Core
- Why Cybersecurity? Why BUG?
- America’s Infrastructure Report Card in 2025: Still Behind, Still Underfunded
- Inflection Points: Roll With the Changes
- Three Themes Driving America’s Manufacturing Revival
ETF HOLDINGS AND PERFORMANCE
To see individual ETF holdings and current performance across the Global X Thematic Suite, including information on the indexes shown, click these links:
- Disruptive Technology: Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ), Blockchain ETF (BKCH), Robotics & Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ), Cybersecurity ETF (BUG), Cloud Computing ETF (CLOU), Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF (DRIV), Data Center & Digital Infrastructure ETF (DTCR), FinTech ETF (FINX), Video Games & Esports ETF (HERO), Lithium and Battery Tech ETF (LIT), PropTech ETF (PTEC), Defense Tech ETF (SHLD), Internet of Things ETF (SNSR), Social Media ETF (SOCL), U.S. Electrification ETF (ZAP)
- Consumer Economy: Millennial Consumer ETF (MILN), E-Commerce ETF (EBIZ), Genomics & Biotechnology ETF (GNOM), Aging Population ETF (AGNG), HealthTech ETF (HEAL)
- Infrastructure & Environment: U.S. Infrastructure Development ETF (PAVE), CleanTech ETF (CTEC), Renewable Energy Producers (RNRG), Clean Water ETF (AQWA), Hydrogen ETF (HYDR), Solar ETF (RAYS), Wind Energy ETF (WNDY), AgTech & Food Innovation ETF (KROP), Infrastructure Development ex-U.S. ETF (IPAV)
- Digital Assets: Blockchain & Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITS), Bitcoin Trend Strategy ETF (BTRN)
- Multi-Theme: Dorsey Wright Thematic ETF (GXDW)
Appendix: Thematic Expected Sales Growth Graph Indices
AgTech & Food Innovation: Solactive AgTech & Food Innovation Index
Aging Population: Indxx Aging Population Thematic Index
Artificial Intelligence & Technology: Indxx Artificial Intelligence & Big Data Index
Autonomous & Electric Vehicles: Solactive Autonomous & Electric Vehicles Index
Blockchain: Solactive Blockchain Index
Clean Water: Solactive Global Clean Water Industry Index
CleanTech: Indxx Global CleanTech Index
Cloud Computing: Indxx Global Cloud Computing Index
Cybersecurity: Indxx Cybersecurity Index
Data Center & Digital Infrastructure: Solactive Data Center REITs & Digital Infrastructure Index
Defense Tech: Global X Defense Tech Index
E-Commerce: Solactive E-commerce Index
FinTech: Indxx Global FinTech Thematic Index
Genomics: Solactive Genomics Index
HealthTech: Global X HealthTech Index
Hydrogen: Solactive Global Hydrogen Index
Infrastructure Development ex-U.S.: Global X Infrastructure Development Ex-U.S. Index
Internet Of Things: Indxx Global Internet of Things Thematic Index
Lithium & Battery Technology: Solactive Global Lithium Index
Millennial Consumer: Indxx Millennials Thematic Index
PropTech: Global X PropTech Index
Renewable Energy Producers: Indxx Renewable Energy Producers Index
Robotics & Artificial Intelligence: Indxx Global Robotics & Artificial Intelligence Thematic Index
Social Media: Solactive Social Media Total Return Index
Solar: Solactive Solar Index
U.S. Electrification: Global X U.S. Electrification Index
U.S. Infrastructure: Indxx U.S. Infrastructure Development Index
Video Games & Esports: Solactive Video Games & Esports Index
Wind Energy: Solactive Wind Energy Index