Phase 4 – The productivity adopters

The fourth phase extends AI’s reach into the wider economy. Banks, retailers, and healthcare groups are integrating AI into daily operations. JPMorgan uses it for fraud detection, Walmart for inventory logistics, and UnitedHealth for patient analytics. These gains are incremental but lasting.

This stage is where AI shifts from novelty to necessity. The productivity lift feeds directly into earnings. Research from McKinsey suggests that AI could add more than one percentage point to annual global productivity growth through the next decade. For investors, that means broader participation across sectors, not just technology.

Exposure here comes through diversified equity funds or thematic ETFs focused…