The robots are leaving the lab: the megatrend of automation

The robots are leaving the lab: the megatrend of automation | Global X: Invest in innovation | The Guardian
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Global X: Invest in innovation
The robots are leaving the lab: the megatrend of automation
Until recently, humanoid robots seemed like a distant sci-fi dream. Now, they’re on the brink of driving economic transformation.
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Fri 1 May 2026 06.08 CEST Last modified on Tue 5 May 2026 07.46 CEST
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Once confined to factory floors and research labs, the automation megatrend is entering a new era. Driven by AI and machine learning, automation is reshaping sectors across the board, bringing what once seemed like “the future” into our everyday lives and businesses. Getting ahead of the trend may prove lucrative.
Historically, robotic automation has been a staple of manufacturing: robots have done everything from menial assembly line tasks to ordering materials and distributing products. However, Billy Leung, a senior investment strategist with the exchange-traded fund (ETF) provider Global X , says the next phase will be quite different.
“Traditional automation technology has been around for 70 years,” he says. “Key to the next phase of robotics is the declining labour in the services industry. That’s where we are going to see the greatest opportunity.”
In healthcare, robotic systems are already reshaping diagnostics, surgery, dispensing and patient care. As well as filling labour gaps, innovations such as these minimise human error and compensate for worker fatigue, Leung says. Logistics is also benefiting from transformation, leveraging automation to streamline operations through enhanced supply chains, responsiveness, robotic distribution and AI-driven customer service.
“People think this removes the labour or the human interaction,” Leung says. “But it doesn’t; it actually helps it. Whether it’s AI, robotics or automation, it’s not about replacing humans. It’s about enhancing human ability.”
As populations age and able workforces decline, Leung expects a pressing demand for robots capable of performing essential services functions in every industry, from healthcare to hospitality. This shift, he says, opens up exciting investment avenues in companies focused on the development of humanoid robots and the technologies that support them.
“In terms of the robotics industry, we are going to move into more humanoid robotics development.” With so much focus on the services industry, he says, we need “something more human” with the dexterity to move and behave in human ways with hands, fingers, legs or wheels.
“When you think about this area,” he says, “it’s a multi-faceted value chain.” The next phase of robotics, he says, will require input from a spectrum of companies, from chips to actuators, and sensors to batteries and rare earth minerals. “You can’t do it alone. You need to be global.”
One way to capitalise on this megatrend, he says, may be through a specialist investment fund. Global X has launched its Humanoid Robotics ETF ( HMND ), which focuses on companies from around the world at the forefront of robotics innovation, encompassing a diverse range of firms working on critical developments. ETFs such as this give Australians opportunities to invest in companies solely dedicated to humanoid robotics, Leung says.
Robotics ETFs are designed to be regularly rebalanced, ensuring they capture the most relevant companies in a rapidly evolving market. This systematic approach allows investors to benefit from innovation across various sectors without the need for constant oversight.
“We constantly look for new ideas on a systematic, passive basis,” he says. “And we understand it’s a global phenomenon. Innovation is borderless.”
Explore Global X Beyond Ordinary ETFs .
Issued by Global X Management (AUS) Limited (‘Global X’) (AFSL 466778, ACN 150 433 828). This is general information only and not personal advice. This communication doesn’t consider your personal circumstances or needs. Investors should consider whether Global X products are appropriate for them, obtain financial advice and read the product disclosure statement (PDS) and target market determination (TMD) before making investment decisions. All PDSs and TMDs are available on our website: www.globalxetfs.com.au . Investment in any products issued by Global X is subject to risks, including possible delays in repayment and loss of income and principal invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. This content may not be reproduced, distributed or published by any recipient for any purpose. Global X nor any of its affiliates make any warranty as to the accuracy of any data used or displayed in this communication or to the performance of any product.
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