BlackRock Launches RBTX Active ETF Focused on Robotics and Automation

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BlackRock announced the launch of the iShares Future Robotics and Related Technologies Active ETF (RBTX), building on its leadership in AI investing with an actively managed strategy focused on robotics as a major next frontier of AI.

RBTX seeks to maximize total return by investing in companies across the robotics value chain, including those that develop, support, supply, service, enable or implement the automation of physical tasks using intelligent machines.

RBTX will be managed by Tony Kim and Reid Menge of BlackRock’s Fundamental Equities Technology Team, overseeing more than $50 billion across AI and Technology strategies.¹

“AI is expanding beyond the digital world into the physical economy, enabling industries such as manufacturing, transportation and logistics operate with greater intelligence, precision and adaptability,” said Tony Kim, Head of Fundamental Equities Technology Team at BlackRock. “Robotics is a significant next phase of AI adoption, with the potential to transform industries and create new investment opportunities.”

RBTX builds on BlackRock’s scale and experience across AI investing. The firm manages the largest AI ETF in the U.S., the iShares A.I. Innovation and Tech Active ETF (BAI), led by Tony Kim, which has amassed more than $14 billion in assets since its October 2024 launch.²

The U.S. iShares AI ETF platform also includes several index funds such as the iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (ARTY), which seeks to provide broad global exposure to companies across the AI value chain, the iShares Future AI Beneficiaries ETF (AIBF), which seeks to offer exposure to U.S. companies that may benefit from AI adoption through cost savings and revenue growth, and the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) that seeks to track companies in the semiconductor sub-sector. Together with BAI and RBTX, these funds give investors distinct ways to access AI, adjust their exposure and express their investment views.

“AI is rapidly becoming the dominant investment theme of this generation, and investors increasingly want more choice and greater precision in how they participate in its growth,” said Jay Jacobs, U.S. Head of Equity ETFs at BlackRock. “RBTX brings an active, research-driven approach to identifying companies leading the adoption of robotics, while complementing our broader platform of strategies spanning the AI opportunity.”

iShares is the world’s third-largest active ETF provider and has led the global industry in active ETF inflows year to date in 2026, with assets nearly doubling over the past year to approximately $200 billion.³ BlackRock projects global active ETF assets under management will triple from $1.4 trillion to $4.2 trillion by 2030.⁴