It has become possible to invest intensively in an ETF focused on American companies leading the development of humanoid robots, which are considered the final stage of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Samsung Asset Management announced on the 15th that it will newly list the 'KODEX US Humanoid Robot' ETF, which invests in the humanoid robot industry.
Humanoid robots are robots with human-like appearance and functions, and their greatest strength is their 'versatility,' as they can be widely used in various fields such as industrial sites, homes, hospitals, and commercial spaces. As AI technology evolves, they can be applied to various work environments through software updates alone, and their distribution is expected to accelerate in the future. According to Fortune Business Insights, the humanoid robot market is expected to grow about 27 times over the next 10 years, from approximately $2.4 billion in 2023 to about $66 billion in 2032. The compound annual growth rate is analyzed to reach 45.5%.
The KODEX US Humanoid Robot ETF invests in leading US tech companies in the humanoid robot ecosystem based on AI technology and capital strength, such as ▲Tesla ▲NVIDIA ▲Amazon. Unlike other humanoid robot ETFs, it differentiates itself by allocating a relatively high proportion to major companies like Tesla, NVIDIA, and Amazon, allowing up to 15% of the total portfolio to be invested in these companies. These companies are leading the growth of the humanoid industry based on AI technology and active investment capital.
Tesla is commercializing its own humanoid robot, 'Optimus,' with mass production scheduled for this year, making profits visible. NVIDIA provides a physical platform specialized for AI through the world's first open humanoid foundation model 'GR00T' and AI development platform 'Cosmos.' Amazon has been a pioneer in introducing its own robots in logistics centers and is currently piloting Digit, developed by its investment partner Agility Robotics. The ETF includes a total of 20 stocks, encompassing companies with technological competitiveness across the AI robot ecosystem, including intelligent robots (collaborative, medical, logistics) and traditional robots (sensors, components). This product allows preemptive investment in the humanoid robot industry, which is expected to spread mainly in the US. It tracks the 'iSelect US Humanoid Robot Index' as its benchmark index, with a total expense ratio of 0.45% per year.
Since the emergence of generative AI, the AI industry has entered a full growth trajectory. 'Physical AI' refers to the final stage where AI technology is embedded in physical devices to assist and replace human physical labor, gaining attention. After Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, emphasized the importance of Physical AI at CES 2025, it has become a major topic in the market. It is expected that mass production and commercialization of humanoid robots, regarded as the terminal stage of Physical AI, will begin in earnest.
The development stage of the humanoid industry is analyzed to resemble the early days of smartphone adoption. Donghoon Han, a manager at Samsung Asset Management, explained, "Apple, which sold finished products with an internalized operating system (OS), can be seen as the current Tesla, and Google (Android), which aimed for an open shared OS platform, can be seen as the current NVIDIA."
He added, "Just as they opened new markets and achieved high growth, the humanoid robot industry is expected to grow along the same trajectory." He said, "Currently, the humanoid industry is still in its early stages, so it is appropriate to invest in companies with leadership. As the industry evolves, our product will naturally change and evolve into an investment product that directly reflects the industry's growth."
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