If you're not keen on picking individual stocks to invest in AI technology, that's understandable. Among my three dozen stock portfolio, only two can be considered "AI plays, " and even these aren't pure AI-focused companies; they just stand to gain from AI advancements. Instead of selecting individual AI stocks, you might consider investing in an ETF. However, the drawback with AI ETFs is that their top holdings often comprise the same large tech stocks or a blend of a few big tech companies. One ETF that stands out is the Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (ARKQ -2. 49%). Here's why it deserves your attention. A unique strategy Several ETFs target AI stocks, and some offer excellent investments with reasonable fees. The Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF, however, takes a different path. Unlike an index fund, which seeks to replicate the performance of an AI stock index, Ark's funds are actively managed.

This means portfolio managers, including notable tech investor Cathie Wood, actively select stocks with the aim of outperforming AI benchmarks. This approach results in a concentrated portfolio of just 35 stocks, differing significantly from major AI index funds. For example: - The iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (ARTY -0. 58%) includes Broadcom (AVGO -2. 18%), Arista Networks (ANET -1. 01%), and Nvidia (NVDA -3. 00%) as top positions. - The Invesco AI and Next Gen Software ETF (IGPT -1. 53%) features Nvidia, Alphabet (GOOGL -0. 98%) (GOOG -1. 14%), and Meta Platforms (META 0. 84%) as its top holdings. These well-known tech companies are staples in most AI index funds. While Nvidia, Alphabet, and Broadcom are excellent firms, investing in a Nasdaq-100 index fund could offer similar concentrated exposure to these mega-cap players. Discover lesser-known AI stocks Admittedly, the Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF's top holding is Tesla (TSLA -0. 05%)—a familiar name. However, the rest of the top five are comprised of lesser-known companies: Teradyne (TER -2. 17%), Kratos Defense & Security (KTOS 1. 49%), Rocket Lab USA (RKLB -1. 65%), and Archer Aviation (ACHR -14. 41%). - Teradyne, a robotics company, has a market cap of $23 billion. - Kratos develops defense products and software, with a market cap over $4 billion. - Rocket Lab, valued at $14 billion, creates spacecraft and related components. - Archer Aviation, valued around $4. 8 billion, develops electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Together, these four stocks represent just over 1% of Nvidia's market cap, yet more than 31% of this Ark ETF’s assets are invested in them. A unique approach with reasonable fees The main takeaway is that the Ark Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF offers a unique way to gain AI exposure without focusing solely on the typical tech giants. It includes significant positions in innovative small and mid-cap stocks with strong growth potential.