Guardian's New Fund Uses AI Agents to Pick the Next Wave of AI Winners

TORONTO, ON – July 28, 2026 – In a market clamoring for authentic ways to invest in the artificial intelligence revolution, Guardian Capital LP has launched a novel solution that uses AI to invest in AI. The firm today announced the debut of its Guardian i3 AI Technology and Innovation Fund (TSX: GIAI), a vehicle designed not just to ride the AI megatrend, but to intelligently navigate it.

For years, investors seeking exposure to AI have faced a frustrating dilemma: concentrate their bets on a handful of mega-cap tech giants, rely on static, slow-to-update indexes, or venture into the opaque world of private markets. Guardian Capital, now a key part of Desjardins Group, is betting it has cracked the code with a dynamic approach that aims to offer a more sophisticated and current gateway to one of the most transformative economic shifts of our time.

The 'Digital Analyst': A New Breed of Stock Picker

What sets the Guardian i3 AI Technology and Innovation Fund apart is its proprietary, multi-layered investment process, honed by the firm's i3 Investments® Team. This isn't just another thematic fund with "AI" in the name; it's an active strategy powered by the very technology it seeks to capitalize on. The process begins with a feature that sounds like science fiction: the deployment of "AI agents."

These agents are tasked with an initial, crucial screening of the global equity universe. Their mission is to identify companies that either derive a material portion of their revenue directly from artificial intelligence or are investing heavily in its development and integration. This method moves beyond simple keyword searches or sector classifications, allowing the fund to uncover less obvious players and stay ahead of a rapidly evolving landscape.

Once this initial cohort of companies is identified, it is fed into the i3 team's core engine: the Global Equity Model for the Next Generation (GEMX). This sophisticated model, which the team has been refining since it began integrating machine learning in 2018, acts as a "digital analyst." It leverages machine learning, natural language processing, and even AI-enabled image analysis to forecast earnings growth, dividend potential, and cash flow sustainability with a depth that human analysis alone can struggle to achieve.

"The past several years have been transformative for the i3 Investments® Team,” says Sri Iyer, Managing Director and Head of i3 Investments® at Guardian Capital LP. “From incorporating machine learning into our process in 2018 to now utilizing AI agents to better support our research efforts, we’ve never had more conviction in the investment potential we’re providing to our clients. We truly feel this is the best way to participate holistically in the broad AI megatrend that is set to reshape the global economy for years to come.”

Crucially, this is not a "black box" strategy. The firm emphasizes that the AI models are designed to augment, not replace, human expertise. The ideas and opportunities flagged by GEMX are rigorously vetted by the experienced portfolio management team, which applies its own judgment and risk management framework before making any investment decisions. This "human-in-the-loop" approach is what the firm believes gives it an edge, combining the raw analytical power of AI with the seasoned perspective of investment professionals.

Democratizing the AI Megatrend

The launch comes at a time of unprecedented investor appetite for AI. With corporate AI investment hitting over $250 billion in 2024 and venture capital pouring a record $35 billion into generative AI firms in 2025, the demand for accessible, well-managed exposure is clear. This fund aims to fill a notable gap in the Canadian market, which, until now, has had few actively managed, pure-play AI offerings.

By offering the fund in multiple formats—including an ETF (GIAI), and mutual fund Series A, F, and I units—Guardian is making its strategy accessible to a wide spectrum of investors, from individuals managing their own portfolios to clients of financial advisors and large institutions. This structure provides a diversified, professionally managed alternative to the high-risk, high-concentration strategy of betting on a few dominant tech names. The fund's active management, powered by its dynamic AI screening, stands in stark contrast to passive index ETFs, which can be slow to adapt to the breakneck pace of innovation in the AI sector.

A Strategic Gambit in a High-Stakes Market

For Guardian Capital and its parent company, Desjardins Global Asset Management, the launch of the GIAI fund is more than just a new product—it's a significant strategic play. Following its acquisition by Desjardins in a deal that took Guardian private earlier this year, the firm is clearly positioning itself at the forefront of financial innovation. This fund showcases the deep quantitative capabilities of its i3 team and stakes a claim in the hyper-competitive and lucrative field of technology investing.

The AI market is not just a trend; it's a foundational economic shift. Morgan Stanley Research projects a staggering $3 trillion in AI-related infrastructure investment by 2028. By launching a sophisticated, AI-driven fund, Guardian is positioning itself as a key enabler for investors looking to participate in this buildout. It’s a move designed to capture assets and solidify its reputation as an innovative leader in the Canadian asset management industry, leveraging the scale and reach of the Desjardins Group.

Navigating the Risks of an AI-Driven Future

While the potential is enormous, Guardian Capital is transparent about the risks. The fund's own documents assign it a "High" risk rating, suitable for investors with a medium to long-term horizon who can tolerate significant volatility. The reliance on predictive technology introduces "model risk"—the possibility that the AI models, built on historical data and specific assumptions, may not perform as expected in future market conditions.

The firm's own prospectus cautions that there is "no guarantee that the use of the quantitative model and artificial intelligence will result in effective investment decisions." This is where the fusion of human and artificial intelligence becomes paramount. The i3 team's role as the ultimate decision-maker acts as a critical safeguard, intended to mitigate the inherent limitations of any predictive model. By blending the tireless data-processing of its digital analyst with the contextual awareness and experience of its human managers, Guardian is betting it has found the right balance to navigate the promising yet perilous frontier of AI investing.