AI-themed ETFs are not all exposed to the same risk just because they own โAIโ stocks. In branded strategies tied to a well-known manager or research voice, the departure of that person can change how investors interpret the fundโs durability, even if the holdings process remains intact. That makes the difference between a personality-led thesis and a rules-based index especially important for long-term allocators.
For investors, the key question is not only what an ETF owns, but how that exposure is assembled and maintained. A fund built around a single research franchise may offer a more concentrated narrative, while a broader thematic index can spread exposure across software, semiconductors, data infrastructure and enabling hardware. Those design choices affect diversification, sector overlap and how closely the ETF tracks the parts of the AI supply chain most likely to dominate portfolio weight over time.
Another issue is implementation discipline. Thematic ETFs often need periodic reconstitution and rebalancing to avoid drifting into a few crowded names or, conversely, becoming too diluted to express the theme clearly. Investors comparing AI funds should look at turnover, index rules, holding concentration and whether the strategy is designed to capture early-stage adopters, infrastructure beneficiaries or global AI enablers.
For portfolio construction, the broader lesson is that a thematic ETF works best as a satellite holding, not a substitute for core equity exposure. When a product is heavily associated with one analyst or market voice, succession risk becomes part of the investment case alongside valuation and concentration risk. That can matter as much as the AI story itself.
Things are certainly changing over at Wedbush headquarters. On Wednesday, July 1, Wedbush announced that Dan Ives โ the firmโs Global Head of Technology Research โ has left the company to begin a new venture.
Key Takeaways:
- Dan Ives, Global Head of Technology Research at Wedbush, has departed the firm after eight years of employment.
- Ivesโ departure may affect the value proposition of the Dan Ives Webush AI Revolution ETF (IVES) and the Dan Ives Wedbush AI Power & Infrastructure ETF (IVEP), given how much these funds have leveraged his name and investment philosophy.
- However, there are plenty of other ETFs on the market that also provide concise AI exposure, for those who are having second thoughts about IVES or IVEP.
โDan has been an exceptional team member of Wedbush, helping bring our firm valuable prominence and expertise in the technology equity markets,โ noted Gary Wedbush, President and CEO of Wedbush. โWe are grateful for his eight years of contributions. Itโs a natural step for Dan to seize an entrepreneurial opportunity. I wish him success and look forward to future partnerships with his new venture.โ
Losing Ives will likely be a blow to some of Wedbushโs ETF offerings. These funds have leveraged Ivesโ name and expertise. This includes both the Dan Ives Webush AI Revolution ETF (IVES), which is so intertwined with Ivesโ investment philosophy that the fundโs ticker is simply his last name. IVES currently has over $1.1 billion in assets under management, as of July 2, 2026.
IVES is not the only fund that Wedbush offers that utilized Dan Ivesโ name in its title and investment philosophy. The firm also has the Dan Ives Wedbush AI Power & Infrastructure ETF (IVEP), which focuses on investing in companies positioned to benefit on the AI buildout through grid modernization, electrification, data infrastructure, and more.
An Opportunity for the Competition
โIvesโ departure is a poster child example of key person risk that can happen with certain ETFs,โ added Todd Rosenbluth, Head of Research at VettaFi. โThe ETFs were built and marketed around Mr. Ivesโ name and expertise. His departure from Wedbush is likely to cause investors to consider other AI related ETFs.โ
For those who have trepidation about sticking with IVES or IVEP, there are plenty of other AI focused ETFs. Those available on the market also offer compelling investment approaches. As just one example, thereโs the ROBO Global Artificial Intelligence ETF (THNQ), which uses its own distinct methodology to provide exposure to AI companies across the globe. Notably, as the chart below shows, THNQ has distinctly outperformed IVES on a year-to-date basis.
The AI Opportunity Set
Of course, THNQ and IVES are not the only attractive AI ETFs on the market. Investors and advisors could also look to tools like the Roundhill Generative AI & Technology ETF (CHAT) and the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ), which each offer their own takes on investing in this highly sought after theme.
Looking down the line, advisors and investors shouldnโt expect the AI theme to dissolve any time soon. Tech giants are continuing to innovate and build out new data centers. Meanwhile, companies of all kinds are leveraging AI adoption to accelerate their growth opportunities. Given this, those who had picked IVES or IVEP may start considering one of many competing AI ETFs.
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