AI disruption, automation and weight-loss drugs: 3 ‘thematic’ investment trends some analysts say investors should watch in 2026

In Canada, those trends play out against a different backdrop than in the U.S. Slower economic growth, higher labour costs and a more concentrated stock market mean themes like automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and health innovation may affect Canadian companies in distinctive and different ways than south of the border — especially in sectors such as banking, retail, health care and food services (1).

One firm that’s applying a forward-thinking analysis is Citrini Research, which focuses on what’s known as thematic investing. The approach looks for investment opportunities tied to big global shifts — such as new technology, changing consumer habits or demographic change.

Citrini recently published a list of its top investment themes to watch in 2026. While the full report is available only to subscribers, Business Insider (BI) highlighted several of the firm’s key ideas in its article from December 2025 (2).

Interest in thematic investing has been growing recently. Global assets held in thematic funds reached about US$779 billion in the third quarter of 2025, according to Morningstar's Global Thematic Fund Landscape Report 2025 (3). Areas tied to AI, digital services and security have been among the fastest-growing.

AI shows up again on Citrini’s 2026 watchlist — but not always in the way many investors might expect.

Here are three thematic asset categories Citrini’s analysts say are worth watching in 2026.

1. AI workforce changes

There’s ongoing debate about whether AI will lead to more jobs or fewer overall. What’s clear, though, is that AI is already changing how companies operate — especially when it comes to staffing levels, productivity and costs.

According to BI, Citrini Research is optimistic about entities that use AI to streamline operations and reduce layers of management. The firm believes some businesses could significantly improve profits by cutting administrative roles and automating specific tasks.

In Canada, that pressure is amplified by higher labour costs and ongoing worker shortages in both white-collar and service-sector roles. Data from Statistics Canada shows wage growth outpaces inflation in several sectors for full-time employees, inspiring employers to invest in technology that enhances productivity (4).

To identify potential winners, Citrini created its own internal screening tools. One measures how many management layers a company has, while another estimates how much its profit margins could improve if it operated with fewer employees. Using these metrics, Citrini identified more than 30 companies across several industries that it believes could benefit from AI-driven workforce changes.

This may be especially relevant in Canada’s financial services, telecommunications and professional services sectors, where large organizations often employ large teams. Canadian companies in these industries have already indicated increased spending on automation and AI to help control costs and protect margins in a slower-growth economy (5).

For investors, the idea is about more than tech companies simply building AI tools. It’s also about businesses that successfully use those tools to become leaner, faster and more efficient — especially in a higher-cost environment where wages and operating expenses continue to rise.

2. Automation behind the scenes at fast-casual restaurants

So-called “slop bowls” — meals where ingredients are mixed together in a single bowl with little regard for presentation — have become a popular menu option at fast-casual restaurants. You’ll find them everywhere, from Mexican-style burrito bowls to Mediterranean and Asian-inspired dishes.

While the food may be simple, running a restaurant isn’t. Restaurants tend to operate on very thin profit margins, and rising labour costs have made that challenge even tougher in recent years — particularly in Canada where minimum wages have increased across most provinces and staffing shortages remain common in the food-service sector (6).

According to Business Insider, Citrini Research expects some bowl-focused restaurant chains to benefit from increased automation — particularly in back-of-house operations such as food prep and inventory management.

Because these systems don’t directly interact with customers, restaurants may be able to automate them without hurting the dining experience. In doing so, they could reduce staffing needs, speed up service and improve consistency — a potential advantage in Canadian urban markets where rent and labour costs are highest and make up the largest portion of restaurant overhead.

Citrini also sees potential upside beyond the restaurants themselves. Companies that design and supply kitchen automation tools, robotics or food-service software could also benefit if more chains adopt this approach, including suppliers serving Canadian quick-service and fast-casual businesses.

3. Supporting long-term weight management after GLP-1 drugs

GLP-1 medications were originally developed to treat type-2 diabetes (7). In recent years, they’ve also become widely adopted tools for weight loss, helping many people shed a significant portion of pounds in a relatively short time.

The Canadian demand for these medications has quickly grown, raising questions about access, cost and long-term coverage under provincial drug plans and private insurance (8). As usage expands beyond diabetes treatment, health systems are also closely monitoring to see how these drugs affect long-term health outcomes (9).

The challenge comes after the patient stops taking the medication. Research shows that many people regain the weight once they discontinue use, creating a new problem for both patients and health-care providers — including those operating within Canada’s publicly-funded health system.

According to BI, Citrini Research believes this creates an opportunity for pharmaceutical companies. The firm is looking for new treatments designed to help people maintain weight loss over the long term, rather than relying on continuous use of current GLP-1 drugs.

These could include medications aimed at improving metabolism or supporting lasting lifestyle changes. In Canada, any such treatments would need approval from Health Canada, which can slow timelines but may also support broader adoption if therapies demonstrate long-term cost savings (10).

If successful, these treatments may represent a new and potentially lucrative segment of the health-care market — particularly in Canada where obesity rates have steadily risen and policymakers are focused on reducing long-term strain on the health-care system. In 2023, the cost of inaction on treating obesity to the health-care system was estimated at C$27.6 billion, according to the National Institute of Health (11).

For investors, this theme highlights how medical innovation doesn't always stop at a breakthrough drug. In some cases, the next wave of growth comes from solving the follow-up challenges that evolve from new treatments.

The risk and rewards of thematic investing

If these themes catch your interest, it may be worth discussing them with a financial advisor before making any changes to your portfolio. Thematic investing can offer exposure to fast-growing areas of the economy, but it also comes with added risk.