Key takeaways
- True AI stocks develop and own artificial intelligence technologies.
- The ASX has just a handful of AI stocks but it's an emerging industry.
- ASX AI companies expected to benefit from the rise of AI include Appen, BrainChip and NextDC.
Artificial intelligence (AI) stocks represent one of the fastest growing sectors on the Australian market.
Today there are over 600 AI companies headquartered in Australia and foreign investment into local AI technologies has reached over $7 billion.
However, AI is still very much in its early days in Australia. While several tech companies are involved in AI projects, there are very few pure-play AI stocks on the ASX.
What are AI stocks?
It seems like every day a different company is announcing a new AI project. Unfortunately, all the hype around AI makes it difficult to discern true AI stocks from companies that simply use AI as a marketing tool.
Generally speaking, AI stocks are public companies that are heavily involved in artificial intelligence-related projects. If a company builds, owns and makes most of its money from AI technologies, then it's a true AI stock.
If a company simply uses AI features, especially from third-party providers, it may just be AI-enabled. Whether these types of companies can be classified as 'AI stocks' is largely subjective.
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Keeping in line with the theme, we thought we'd use AI to find a list of criteria used by fund managers, academics and seed investors to separate AI stocks from the rest.
According to the experts, here's how to tell if a stock is the real deal or just riding the AI hype train.
- Does the company actually develop AI models, software or hardware? True AI companies build technology like machine learning models (e.g. OpenAI, DeepMind), AI chips (e.g. Nvidia) or proprietary AI-powered platforms (e.g. Palantir). If a company only uses AI (e.g., banks using AI for fraud detection), it's not an AI stock—it's an AI-enabled stock.
- Does AI drive most of the company's revenue? If AI is just a side project, then it's not a true AI stock. The company should be making significant revenue from AI-driven products. Check financial reports for AI-related revenue streams.
- Does the company own its AI technology? Real AI companies develop and own their AI tech, instead of just licensing or reselling third-party AI. Key signs of ownership include patents, AI research papers and proprietary AI frameworks.
Final Verdict: AI Stock or AI-Washing?
- If a stock passes all 3 steps, it's a real AI company.
- If AI is just a feature, it's AI-enabled, not AI-first.
- If a company talks big about AI but doesn't develop it, beware of AI-washing.
Sources: CSET Report: Identifying AI-Related Companies, Swift Ventures AI Index, BlueBull Partners AI Investment Guide
The best ASX AI stocks
There are only a handful of pure-play AI stocks globally, and fewer still in Australia. Many of the Australian firms working on AI are small or micro-cap start ups and so can be on the riskier side for investors.
For our list of ASX AI stocks, we've included companies that primarily build AI technology or have distribution rights to AI products.
The following stocks represent some of the biggest and most well known companies listed on the ASX that are primarily involved in or prioritising work on AI projects.
We used ChatGPT to help review whether each company develops AI tech, owns AI tech and sources revenue primarily from AI projects.
The best performing ASX-listed AI stocks
| Ticker Code | Company Name | 1-Year Performance (to 26 May, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| AYA | Artrya Limited | 507.84% |
| NXT | Next DC | 13.11% |
| DDR | Dicker Data | 6.20% |
| APX | Appen | -0.44% |
| UNT | Unith Ltd | -11.11% |
1. Artrya Limited (ASX: AYA)
Artrya is an Australian medical technology company that has developed and patented an AI-powered platform designed to detect coronary artery disease.
A relatively new micro-cap stock, Artrya was listed on the ASX in 2021.
- Develops AI Technology? Yes. Artrya has developed Salix Coronary Anatomy, an AI-powered software that can detect coronary artery disease.
- AI-Driven Revenue? Yes. Artrya's primary business model is based on selling its AI-powered diagnostic software to healthcare providers.
- Owns AI Technology? Yes. Artrya develops and owns its AI models, rather than licensing external AI solutions.
2. Next DC (ASX: NXT)
Data centre operator NEXTDC operates over a dozen facilities around the world. The company specialises in cloud computing services and has in recent years focused on incorporating AI workflows as part of its infrastructure.
In 2024, Next DC became certified to offer Nvidia AI infrastructure for its data centres, giving the company a leg up over competitors.
NEXTDC is currently expanding its footprint across the Asia-Pacific region, aiming to meet the surging demand for AI-driven data services.
- Develops AI Technology: No, operates data centres.
- AI-Driven Revenue: No, revenue is from data centre services.
- Owns AI Technology: No, provides infrastructure that supports AI workloads but doesn't develop AI tech.
3. Dicker Data (ASX: DDR)
A distributor of hardware, software, and cloud services that help companies analyse large volumes of data, especially useful in AI and deep learning applications.
Dicker Data has exclusive rights to distribute Nvidia products across the ANZ region, providing AI software and hardware solutions. In early 2025, Dicker Data also announced the distribution rights for AI data platform Vast Data across ANZ.
- Develops AI Technology? No. While it provides AI-related products from vendors like BMC Software and Vast Data, it does not develop its own AI technologies.
- AI-Driven Revenue? No. The company's revenue stems from distributing a wide range of IT solutions. Although it offers AI-enabling products, these are part of a broader portfolio, and AI-specific products do not constitute the majority of its income.
- Owns AI Technology? No. Dicker Data distributes AI solutions developed by other companies but does not own proprietary AI technologies.
4. Appen (ASX: APX)
One of Australia's most well known tech stocks, Appen provides data for machine learning and artificial intelligence.
In 2023, it teamed up with Nvidia to integrate its services into the Nvidia AI Enterprise platform. The partnership aims to help businesses build custom AI models that fit their needs and brand.
Appen is also working on several AI projects such as a new suite of language model data products and a partnership with the AI company, Reka AI.
- Develops AI Technology: Yes, Appen specialises in creating AI training data and language models.
- AI-Driven Revenue: Yes, its primary income is from AI data services.
- Owns AI Technology: Yes, Appen develops proprietary AI tools and platforms.
5. Unith Ltd (ASX: UNT)
Previously known as Crowd Media Holdings, Unith Ltd specialises in creating AI-powered avatars that can engage with customers in real-time.
Their proprietary Digital Human Platform lets businesses create interactive virtual assistants for use in sales, customer service and training.
- Develops AI Technology: Yes, its Digital Human Platform is powered by conversational AI.
- AI-Driven Revenue: Yes, its primary revenue streams come from their AI solutions.
- Owns AI Technology: Partially, collaborates on AI developments but also uses external AI solutions such as ChatGPT.
6. BrainChip Holdings (ASX: BRN)
BrainChip Holdings is one of the only pure-play AI stocks on the ASX.
It develops both software and hardware for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning applications for companies globally. Essentially it makes computer chips that are designed to mimic the human brain.
BrainChip's primary focus is its Akida Neuromorphic Processor technology, designed for edge computing -- meaning it can process on-device data without an internet connection.
In 2022, BrainChip entered into commercial agreements with leading semiconductor companies Renesas and MegaChips to integrate the Akida technology into their product lineup.
- Develops AI Technology: Yes, BrainChip creates AI hardware, notably the Akida Neuromorphic Processor.
- AI-Driven Revenue: Yes, revenue is centered on its AI processors.
- Owns AI Technology: Yes, it owns its AI chip designs and technology.
7. Dubber (ASX: DUB)
Dubber is an Australian company that provides call recording and voice intelligence cloud solutions worldwide.
It offers several applications including Dubber You, a tool to search, play, edit, organise, and share conversations from any device. It also offers Dubber Compliance for compliance teams and managers and Voice Intelligence Cloud platform.
Dubber's clients include enterprises, small and medium businesses, financial services, government, education, healthcare, and legal sectors, as well as for service and solution providers.
- Develops AI Technology: No, Dubber offers cloud-based call recording services.
- AI-Driven Revenue: Partially, it uses AI for transcription and analysis but isn't primarily AI-driven.
- Owns AI Technology: No, it integrates third-party AI for its services.
8. AI-Media Technologies (ASX: AIM)
AI-Media provides AI-powered captioning and translation services for video and broadcast operators in Australia and overseas.
AI-Media's standout product is its real time speech to text AI-enhanced platform, which is used by clients including Seven Network, Foxtel and Sky News.
Although AI-Media leverages AI to enhance its products, it primarily applies existing third party AI solutions. It doesn't actually develop AI models like OpenAI, Appen or BrainChip.
- Develops AI Technology: No, offers AI-powered captioning services.
- AI-Driven Revenue: Yes, revenue comes from AI-enhanced services.
- Owns AI Technology: No, primarily uses third-party AI solutions.
"Financial health and stability should be the first consideration for any investor when selecting AI stocks... There are 3 key measures to analyse; 1) revenue growth should be consistent and strong, 2) the balance between innovation and profitability, and 3) low debt-to-equity ratios to ensure the company can service debt levels."
What about AI ETFs on the ASX?
If you'd prefer to invest in a whole portfolio of companies involved in artificial intelligence, you could invest in an AI themed exchange traded fund (ETF) listed on the ASX.
This is a safer choice than investing in 1 or 2 companies because if any one company fails they're supported by others in the portfolio.
To date, there are at least 4 ASX ETFs that have exposure to artificial intelligence. It's worth noting, while they're listed on Australia's stock exchange, they primarily hold international AI stocks, rather than ASX-listed stocks.
Make sure to do your research and check out their stock holdings before you invest.
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Key holdings:
Ticker Company name 700 HK Tencent Holdings Ltd BABA Alibaba META Meta Platforms AAPL Apple KYCCF Samsung Electron ACN Accenture Plc-Cl NFLX Netflix CSCO Cisco PLTR Palantir Technologies IBM IBM -
Key holdings:
Ticker Company name FANUY FANUC CORP NVDA NVIDIA Corp ABB ABB Ltd ISRG Intuitive Surgical, Inc. KYCCF KEYENCE CORPORATION RSW Renishaw plc YASKY Yaskawa Electric Corporation BRKS Brooks Automation, Inc DFKCY Daifuku OMRNY OMRON Corp -
Key holdings:
Ticker Company name DDD 3D Systems Corporation 2049 HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP FLIR FLIR Systems, Inc. BPRMF Blue Prism Group PLC VCRA Vocera Communications Inc 098460 Kohyoung Technology Inc YASKY Yaskawa Electric Corporation KRDXF Kardex Holding AG IPGP IPG Photonics Corporation IRBT iRobot Corporation -
Key holdings:
Ticker Company name NVDA NVIDIA Corp AVGO BROADCOM INC AMS ASML HOLDING NV 2330 TSMC AMD ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES TXN TEXAS INSTRUMENT INTC INTEL CORP QCOMQUALCOMM INC AMAT APPLIED MATERIAL ADI ANALOG DEVICES
What are the top global AI stocks?
Relatively speaking, Australia is a small fry compared to AI powerhouses overseas. Many companies paving the way for AI are headquartered in the US and China.
You'll notice that many of the big names in artificial intelligence are household name technology stocks. This is because these tech giants are investing in AI by partnering with smaller dedicated start ups or developing its uses within their products and services. For instance, Microsoft is now recognised as a leading AI stock after it partnered with ChatGPT's parent company OpenAI.
Below are some of the biggest companies leading the way in the field of artificial intelligence.
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Of course, you'll have heard of Amazon. It powers the Alexa-enabled devices in your home that turns on your lights, sets your alarms and notifies you of what's being delivered. It's more sophisticated than many even understand as it can recognise who it's talking to and even if you're whispering.
On the Amazon site, AI determines what adverts to show you and what products you may be interested in based on your previous purchases (although it believes that my slow cooker was the first in a collection of slow cookers).
There's little doubt that Amazon will grow its artificial intelligence even further beyond where it is now.
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Microsoft has appeared as a major player in the AI space thanks to its partnership with OpenAI, the firm behind AI chatbot ChatGPT.
Using ChatGPT technology, the tech giant has launched its own chatbot Bing Chat and is integrating AI in several projects, including its Microsoft 365 Azure cloud and other software applications.
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You probably know Alphabet by its child's name, Google. Of course, Google is an amazing and revolutionary search engine that's even been turned into a verb (a rare accomplishment also awarded to FaceTime and Hoover).
Alphabet is aiming to make its AI systems accessible to everyone under an open-source licence. It is building AI into its search function as well as its advertising system. Autonomous-driving-technology company Waymo is a subsidiary of Alphabet.
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NVIDIA has been a way for investors to get access to AI for quite some time. It creates technology that is central to AI. Its graphics processing unit (GPU) helps to power autonomous vehicles, cloud computing and high-performance gaming. These are areas that require deep learning.
NVIDIA is partnered with Sony, and in January 2020, it unveiled a car at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
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International Business Machines (IBM) sells AI tool kits for healthcare, cybersecurity, financial services, supply chain, video and customer services. It's well known for its chess computer "Deep Blue" beating chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov at a game of chess in 1997.
It aims to infuse AI into everything we do to help make more accurate predictions, automate decisions and processes and optimise employee time. It's got "Watson", which brings AI tools and apps together with data. There are loads of pre-built Watson applications such as the Watson assistant and Watson Discovery, or you can use Watson APIs such as visual recognition, text to speech or personality insights.
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Apple has a ton of AI stuff going on. We've been asking Siri to send texts, do quick maths sums and set our alarms for years. This feature makes use of machine learning and is the most obvious use of AI, but there are loads of examples of AI in the background.
Say you're drawing with the Apple Pencil and you lean your palm against the screen. Machine learning is what lets the iPad knows not to scribble in the area where your palm is rested.
Then, in the photos app, the iPhone sorts your photos into categories and can recognise faces in photographs and sort them. Assign your niece's name to a photograph of her and you'll be able to search the name in the app to find every photo you've got of her.
Buy AI stocks and ETFs with an online trading platform
To invest in ASX-listed AI stocks or ETFs from Australia, you'll need to sign up to a share trading platform.
Make sure to choose a platform that offers the full Australian market. For instance, some online trading platforms like Betashares Direct only hold the S&P/ASX300 index, the 300 biggest companies on the ASX. Since many ASX AI stocks are small-caps, you'll need a platform that offers both small/micro-cap stocks as well as the large-caps.
Platforms that offer ASX micro-cap stocks include Tiger Brokers, Moomoo, CMC Invest, Webull and CommSec.
You can compare your options in the platform below.
Looking for other options? Check out these similar products.
How we picked theseFinder Score for share trading platforms
We've scored over 30 share trading platforms assessing them for their core features, fees, customer experience and accessibility. Our experts give each platform a score out of 10.
Frequently asked questions
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It depends on what your investment goals are. Many major tech giants in the US are heavily involved in building AI technologies, such as Alphabet, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft. While these companies are major AI players, they're are also highly diversified, making them a safer bet than say a pure-play AI start-up, like Australia's BrainChip Holdings.
If you're looking for a true AI company listed in Australia, Appen is one of the better known names on the ASX. See the table in this guide for how each AI stock has performed over the past year.
Just remember, what's best for one person might not be best for someone else. Always do your research and check in with a professional if in doubt.
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The easiest way to invest in AI from Australia is to buy AI stocks or ETFs.
You just need to sign up to an online share trading platform. If you want to buy AI stocks that are listed on overseas markets, just make sure you join a platform that gives you access to overseas exchanges. You can compare online brokers using our comparison table above.
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No, OpenAI is not a publicly traded company. If you want to invest in OpenAI, your best bet might be to invest in Microsoft. You can read more in our guide on how to invest in OpenAI.
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Australia has only a handful of true AI companies though it's a fast growing industry. Australian AI companies include Appen, BrainChip Holdings, and Artrya Ltd.
Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.
Sources
Kylie Purcell is an experienced investments analyst and finance journalist with over a decade of expertise in a wide range of financial products, including online trading platforms, robo-advisors, stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. She is a sought-after commentator and regularly shares her insights on the AFR, Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool, SBS and News.com.au. Kylie hosts the Investment Finder video series and actively contributes to the investment community as a judge and panellist. She holds a Master of Arts in International Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Economics, and ASIC-recognised certifications in securities and managed investments. See full bio
- Investment strategies
- Financial platforms
- Stockbrokers
- Robo advisors
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- Ethical investing
- ASX stocks
- Stock and forex markets
Zoe is a writer for Finder specialising in investment and banking. Zoe has a BA in English literature and several years of experience in writing about all things personal finance. She has a particular love for spreadsheets, having also worked as a management accountant. In her spare time, you’ll find Zoe skating at her local ice rink. See full bio
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