AI Prompts for Investing in Gold and Bitcoin Funds

Welcome back to AI in Investment Research & Finance, your weekly briefing on how smart AI prompts can uncover sharper, more actionable market insights.

In late March, we explored a series of AI-powered prompts, comparing gold and Bitcoin as potential safe-haven assets amid ongoing volatility. At the time, gold was trading slightly above $3,000 per ounce, while Bitcoin hovered around $87,000. As of this writing, gold is around $3,300 and Bitcoin has surged past $107,000. These moves potentially suggest investors are split between seeking stability in gold and chasing upside in Bitcoin.

For many, the question remains: which asset is proving more resilient in today's volatile environment? Understanding what is fueling their performance can help clarify which asset may offer more durable portfolio protection, especially for long-term retail investors.

Gold continues to hold its ground, supported by continued worries over inflation, rising geopolitical tensions, tariff developments and steady central bank buying from countries such as China and India. Add to that concerns over currency stability and a limited supply of new discoveries, and it’s clear why gold remains a trusted safe haven.

After initial declines in 2025, Bitcoin has also advanced significantly over the past several weeks, though its rise continues to come with volatility. Institutional participation is growing, yet risks tied to regulation, fund structure and shifting short-term sentiment remain. For investors, the trade-off is clear: the safety potential of gold versus growth potential of digital assets.

This edition of our newsletter looks at two exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that capture those contrasting narratives:
• SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), a fund backed by physical gold;
• ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO), which provides Bitcoin exposure through futures contracts.

We also introduce several AI prompts to help investors assess these funds, including their risk profiles, market behavior and long-term suitability in a diversified portfolio. These prompts are likely to appeal to investment professionals, financial journalists and retail investors.

If you’ve been following our recent coverage of MOAT, SPLV and JEPI, this edition continues our focus on ETF strategies and AI-enhanced research, with a timely spotlight on hard assets and digital alternatives. We then conclude the newsletter with corporate AI developments and several AI jobs of interest.

SPDR Gold Shares (GLD)

• Price: $303.58 (as of date)

• 52-week range: $211.54 to $317.63

• Dividend Yield: N/A

• Expense ratio: 0.40% per year

Financial planners usually recommend allocating 5%-10% of an investment portfolio to precious metals like gold. Buying the physical asset is one possibility. Alternatively, one could buy an ETF that tracks the price of gold, such as the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD).

Launched in 2004, GLD is one of the oldest and largest gold ETFs. It offers exposure to the spot price of gold bullion and is widely used for portfolio diversification. Unlike owning physical gold, GLD provides liquidity, transparency and ease of trading through a brokerage account.

Currently, the fund’s assets are close to $95 billion, with holdings of approximately 29.8 million ounces of gold. GLD has delivered a return of about 35% over the past 12 months and is up 25.4% year-to-date (YTD), hitting a record high in recent weeks.

🧠 AI Prompt 1 for Further Exploration:

Purpose: To evaluate whether GLD is an efficient vehicle for gaining gold exposure in a diversified portfolio.

Prompt:
“From the perspective of a portfolio manager, compare the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) with other major gold ETFs and physical gold in terms of cost, liquidity and tracking accuracy. How does GLD’s historical correlation with equities, bonds, commodities, and Bitcoin ETFs affect its role in a diversified portfolio? Please include references from fund filings, reputable financial sources and recent analyst reports.”

🧠 AI Prompt 2 for GLD:

“Act as a financial journalist preparing a feature article on the SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) fund. Analyze how GLD has performed amid persistent inflation, central bank gold accumulation, increased geopolitical risks and tariff concerns between January 2023 and May 2025. Compare its performance to other traditional safe-haven assets and assess whether its recent gains are driven more by fear-based demand or structural portfolio shifts. Include expert commentary, historical context, and data visualizations suitable for a general investing audience. Support your analysis with credible references and hyperlinks to original sources.”

ProShares Bitcoin ETF (BITO)

• Price: $22.58 (as of date)

• 52-week range: $16.11 to $28.97

• Distribution yield: 56.18%

• Expense ratio: 0.95% per year

Bitcoin-related funds have gained traction as they typically enable investors to track price movements of the digital asset using a traditional brokerage account, eliminating the need for a crypto exchange account or digital wallet. Launched in October 2021, the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) is the first U.S. Bitcoin-linked ETF, providing investors exposure to Bitcoin through futures contracts and swaps rather than direct ownership of the cryptocurrency.

At present, BITO manages approximately $2.2 billion in assets and is among the most actively traded crypto ETFs. It distributes monthly income derived mainly from cash settlements and roll yields of its futures strategy. While these distributions can be attractive during rising markets, they are not derived from income on the underlying asset and are not guaranteed. Instead, distribution amounts fluctuate with market volatility and the shape of the futures curve, which can be confusing for income-focused investors unfamiliar with derivatives-based funds.

BITO’s current portfolio consists mainly of two positions:

• CME Bitcoin Futures contracts (95.9%);

• S&P CME Bitcoin Futures Daily Roll Index Swap (via Société Générale) (4.1%).

BITO’s distribution yield of over 56% is enticing. Yet BITO’s is down roughly 20% over the past 12 months and flat YTD. On the other hand, Bitcoin has returned over 53% in the past year and 13% YTD. This divergence highlights the disconnect between the overall performance of the spot price of an asset, such as Bitcoin, and its futures-based ETFs.

🧠 AI Prompt 1 for Further Exploration:

📌 Purpose: To understand the differences between futures-based and spot-based Bitcoin ETFs, and assess which product better aligns with their long-term investment goals.

Prompt:
“Act as an exchange-traded fund (ETF) analyst. Compare the performance, structure and risk profile of the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) and the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). Evaluate their tracking accuracy, yield sustainability, expense ratios and behavior especially during market volatility. Use current data from May 2025 and cite credible sources including SEC filings, fund filings and reputable financial sources.”

🧠 AI Prompt 2 for BITO:

"I am researching whether the ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) could be used as an effective hedge against equity market volatility or inflation. Analyze the fund’s correlation with the moves in VIX and gold as well as U.S. inflation levels since 2022. Support your analysis with credible references and hyperlinks to original sources."

🌍 Mark Your Calendar: AI for Good Global Summit 2025

The AI for Good Global Summit 2025 will take place from July 8–11, 2025 at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland. Organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in collaboration with 47 United Nations (UN) agencies, this event focuses on leveraging AI to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

👉 Learn more and register here: https://aiforgood.itu.int/summit25/

🎟️ Free Virtual Pass: https://aiforgood.itu.int/summit25/registration/

📊 Upcoming Key Earnings (May 21 – May 27)

Here’re several earnings reports to watch with links to the corporate websites. Understandably, companies can change these release dates:

Wednesday, May 21: Progressive Corp (PGR) and Snowflake (SNOW).

Thursday, May 22: Intuit (INTU), Analog Devices (ADI), Workday (WDAY) and Autodesk (ADSK).

Friday, May 23: Cathay Financial Holding (CHYFF) and MINISO Group (MNSO).

Tuesday, May 27: Xiaomi (XIACF/XIACY), Autozone (AZO) and Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS).

🔔 Note: US markets are closed on Monday, May 26 for Memorial Day.

📈 AI in Markets: Key Trends This Week

🧠 President Donald Trump Greenlights AI Megaproject with UAE, Loosens Chip Restrictions

President Trump announced a major AI infrastructure partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), backing a 10-square-mile data center complex in Abu Dhabi led by the Emirati firm G42, which is set to become one of the world’s largest AI hubs. Alongside the project, the Trump administration plans to ease chip export restrictions, allowing the UAE to import 500,000 Nvidia H100 chips annually. This move is expected to accelerate global AI development and challenge U.S.-China tech dynamics.

📉 Meta Delays ‘Behemoth’ Launch

Meta has postponed its advanced AI model "Behemoth," part of the Llama suite, due to performance issues. In recent days, the delay has triggered investor concern.

🚀 AI Career Moves: Exciting AI Jobs This Week

Looking for your next opportunity in AI? Explore these standout roles across industries and locations:

• 🇺🇸 Investor (AI) – Samsung Next
  📍 Mountain View, CA, USA | Full-Time
  View Job Posting

• 🇺🇸 AI Strategy Consultant – Hightouch
  📍 North America (Remote) | Full-Time
  View Job Posting

• 🇩🇰 GenAI Model Evaluation Expert – Danske Bank
  📍 Copenhagen V, Denmark | Full-Time
  View Job Posting

• 🇪🇸 AI Literacy Learning Content Developer – NEORIS
  📍 Barcelona, Spain | Full-Time
  View Job Posting

  📩 Feel free to share this list with anyone looking for AI opportunities!

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