IBM's Watson is key to new artificial intelligence-powered ETF

As if active portfolio managers didn't have enough challenges from computer-driven passive investing strategies, now machines are directly horning in on their territory. San Francisco-based EquBot LLC is launching the first ever exchange-traded fund to use artificial intelligence, according to a company statement on Tuesday. Employing International Business Machines Corp.'s Watson platform, the AI Powered Equity ETF, ticker AIEQ, will attempt to mimic an army of equity research analysts working around the clock, according to Art Amador, co-founder of EquBot. "There has been an explosion of information," Amador said by phone. "AI provides a more informed way of investing."