Best AI Healthcare Stocks and ETFs to Buy in 2026

Overview:

• AI is gaining adoption across robotic surgery, diagnostics, genomic testing and drug discovery, with nearly $18 billion invested in healthcare AI in 2025

• Intuitive Surgical provides robotics exposure, GE HealthCare offers imaging and hospital technology scale

• BOTZ, ROBT and ROBO provide diversified exposure to robotics, automation, and AI-linked healthcare companies across multiple sectors

Artificial Intelligence is now a major investment theme in the healthcare sector. AI is now being used in robotic surgery, diagnostics, medical imaging, drug discovery, genomic testing, clinical documentation, and hospital workflow automation. This opens up opportunities for investors in individual stocks and diversified ETFs.

The healthcare AI opportunity is also being backed by rising capital inflows. In 2025, approximately $18 billion was invested in the healthcare AI sector, with the majority of these funds going toward clinical documentation, diagnostics, and drug discovery, according to MarketWatch. However, the space is risky due to its strict regulatory system.

Intuitive Surgical

Intuitive Surgical is best known for its da Vinci robotic surgery system, which is used in minimally invasive surgery. The stock provides investors with exposure to surgical automation, robotics, and data-driven operating room technology.

Intuitive Surgical's Q1 2026 revenue came in at $2.77 billion, representing a 23% increase compared to the previous year, while earnings rose to $2.50 per share on an adjusted basis. Its da Vinci and Ion systems both increased by 17% and Ion system use increased by 39%, respectively. The company also installed 431 da Vinci systems in the quarter throughout the world.

Tempus AI

Tempus AI is a potentially simpler but riskier healthcare AI stock. The firm leverages AI and medical information to enable precision medicine, particularly in oncology, cardiovascular disease, radiology, and depression treatment. In 2024, Tempus was listed on Nasdaq under the symbol TEM, with a special emphasis on diagnostics and genome sequencing, as well as AI-driven clinical insights.

The opportunity is big since precision medicine requires integration of genomic, clinical, and imaging information. There's the danger that Tempus remains a growth-stage business, so investors should pay attention to revenue growth, margins, cash burn, and hospital and life sciences customers' adoption.

GE HealthCare

GE HealthCare provides AI exposure through medical imaging. It is not a stand-alone AI company, but due to its size, it appears to have a leg up on those hospitals looking to implement AI in imaging and workflow.

GE HealthCare is a company with four primary business segments: medical imaging, ultrasound, patient care solutions, and pharmaceutical diagnostics. It also has a track record in acquisitions around AI, such as the acquisition of Caption Health in 2023 and a clinical AI business from Intelligent Ultrasound in 2024.

GE HealthCare trades near $64, approximately 27.77% below its 52-week high of $89.77. This means that GE HealthCare is offering investors a less momentum-based AI healthcare play than some of the more aggressive stocks.

Global X Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF

Global X Robotics and Artificial Intelligence ETF (BOTZ) can be beneficial for investors looking to gain exposure to the robotics and automation sector without focusing on a specific company. The ETF includes industrial robotics and automation, autonomous systems, and medical robotics.

Based on the data provided, BOTZ had approximately $3.52 billion in assets under management and an expense ratio of 0.68%. It also covers exposure to healthcare companies like Intuitive Surgical, which is relevant to investors who wish to invest in robotic surgery.

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First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF

The First Trust Nasdaq Artificial Intelligence and Robotics ETF (ROBT) provides investors with broader exposure across technology, industrials, and healthcare. In July of 2026, the fund had 114 stocks and an expense ratio of 0.65%.

Its holdings are linked to the healthcare sector and include companies like Tempus AI and Illumina, and also to other holdings, such as those in cybersecurity, cloud computing and AI infrastructure. This is a good choice for investors seeking something broader than a pure play on the healthcare sector and more AI-centric.

ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF

The ROBO Global Robotics and Automation Index ETF (ROBO) is an additional ETF investors can consider. It's specifically targeted at the robotics, automation and AI companies in various industries, such as healthcare, life sciences, industrial automation, and technology.

ROBO had approximately $2.05 billion worth of assets under management and an expense ratio of 0.95%. Unlike other ETFs, the fund does not have a single large holding that makes up a notable portion of its portfolio. The healthcare-related exposure comprises those companies engaged in robotic surgery, diagnostics, and genetic sequencing.

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Final Thoughts

Intuitive Surgical gives investors some exposure to the robotics space; GE HealthCare provides growth in hospital technology and scale; and Tempus AI offers more growth potential in precision medicine. BOTZ, ROBT, and ROBO are diversified to mitigate single-stock risk while providing exposure to robotics, healthcare AI and automation.

Including big established names in the healthcare space, plus ETFs, and maintaining a smaller exposure to the higher-risk AI healthcare stocks would be a better strategy.

FAQs:

1. What are the best AI healthcare stocks to watch in 2026?

Intuitive Surgical, Tempus AI and GE HealthCare are among the key AI healthcare stocks to watch. They offer exposure to robotic surgery, precision medicine, medical imaging and hospital automation.

2. Why is Intuitive Surgical considered an AI healthcare stock?

Intuitive Surgical is linked to healthcare robotics through its da Vinci robotic surgery system. Its technology supports minimally invasive procedures, surgical automation, and data-driven operating room tools.

3. Is Tempus AI a risky healthcare AI stock?

Yes, Tempus AI offers strong growth potential but also carries higher risk because it is still a growth-stage company. Investors should track revenue growth, margins, cash burn, and customer adoption.

4. Which AI healthcare ETFs can investors consider?

Investors can consider BOTZ, ROBT and ROBO for diversified exposure to robotics, automation and AI. These ETFs include companies linked to healthcare technology, diagnostics, robotic surgery and AI infrastructure.

5. Should investors buy AI healthcare stocks or ETFs?

Stocks may offer higher upside but also carry more company-specific risk. ETFs reduce single-stock risk and may suit investors who want broader exposure to healthcare AI, robotics and automation.