BlackRock's thematic ETF head says that AI's growth is just beginning.

expects infrastructure and cybersecurity plays to shine in 2025.

The U.S. head of thematic and active ETFs at the firm, Jay Jacobs, identifies the artificial intelligence industry as a significant driving force.

He stated on CNBC's "ETF Edge" that it is still in the early stages of AI adoption.

To ensure the safety of their data, AI companies should invest in building out their data centers, as advised by Jacobs.

"He stated that as the value of data increases, it is essential to allocate more resources to cybersecurity. He added that this would greatly benefit the cybersecurity and software communities, which are experiencing rapid revenue growth due to the implementation of AI."

Jacobs also sees a wider impact in terms of the supporting infrastructure.

Technology is magical, but it's important to remember that there are physical components that run it, such as power, data centers, real estate, and chips. These physical elements are necessary for technology to function, and they require energy, materials like copper, and real estate. Therefore, it's crucial to consider the physical infrastructure that supports technology.

So, for Jacobs, the theme is widening one's investment scope.

"The rise of this theme is not limited to megacap tech names; there are also semiconductor, data center, and software companies that are benefiting from it," he stated.

BlackRock's iShares Future AI & Tech ETF (ARTY) and iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (BAI) are potential ways to benefit from the rise in AI, with the iShares Future AI & Tech ETF up around 13% for the year so far and the iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF up around 13% since its Oct. 21 launch as of Friday's close.