AI disruption? Slop bowls? These 3 'thematic' asset categories listed as 'top bets' for investors to watch in 2026

Core Insights - Citrini Research has published its investment themes for 2026, focusing on thematic equity investing which is gaining traction among institutional investors [2][3] Thematic Investing Overview - Thematic investing aims to identify opportunities driven by macrotrends, with global assets in thematic funds reaching a three-year high of $779 billion in Q3 2025 [4] Key Investment Themes for 2026 - One of the prominent themes identified by Citrini for 2026 is related to artificial intelligence (AI), particularly its impact on workforce changes [5] AI Workforce Changes - There is ongoing debate about whether AI will lead to net job losses or gains, but it is clear that AI is disrupting the workforce, prompting companies to adopt AI to reduce labor costs [6] - Citrini is optimistic about stocks from companies that are likely to excel by decreasing headcount through AI implementation [6] Company Screening Methodology - Citrini developed a "bureaucracy score" to assess the robustness of a company's management layers and a "margin optionality score" to evaluate potential benefits from a smaller workforce [7] - The firm identified over 30 companies across various industries that are expected to benefit from the AI workforce theme [7]