Gold saw great growth in 2025. It’s not surprising, as investors often turn to gold during times of economic uncertainty. With the expectations of the U.S. dollar weakening and slower growth, more people turn to a safe-haven investment like gold, according to Morgan Stanley.
Gold prices may be too steep for some investors, leaving them looking for other suitable investments for relative safety. For investors concerned about inflation or market volatility, stability and inflation hedges can be found elsewhere. GOBankingRates asked ChatGPT for the best alternatives to investing in gold. Here’s what the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot recommended as some gold alternatives.
Also see four reasons for gold’s popularity in 2025 and how to protect your portfolio.
Gold isn’t the only precious metal retail investors can purchase. Silver, platinum and palladium are all legitimate alternative investments to buy. Think of these precious metals as cousins to gold but with their unique profiles.
“These metals can benefit from both investment demand and industrial use, which gives them a different performance profile than gold,” ChatGPT said. “All three metals tend to be riskier than investing in gold, but they do provide some upside. Silver tends to be more volatile, but it can outperform gold during strong economic periods due to industrial demand. Platinum and palladium are rarer and more heavily tied to automotive production, which adds risk but also potential upside.”
Having a small portion of your portfolio in these metals can add helpful diversification.
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Owning stocks can still be a wise choice for cautious investors, given the right circumstances. Growth stocks may be too risky, but defensive stocks can provide some protection. Defensive stocks typically have a strong history of dividend growth, minimal debt and an inexpensive valuation, according to Kiplinger.
In short, companies that sell items people always use are often defensive. “Firms in defensive sectors like utilities, healthcare and consumer staples sell products people need regardless of economic conditions,” ChatGPT explained.
Defensive means dependable, not boring, and that dependability can create generous dividend growth.
Gold investors often value tangible assets they can see. Land, such as farmland or real estate, could be an alternative to gold for the right investor. “These assets are less liquid and can require more management, but they often move independently of traditional financial markets,” the AI said.
If illiquidity isn’t a concern, ChatGPT noted that farmland could be a gold substitute. “Farmland, in particular, has shown a strong historical record of maintaining value and generating income, even when stocks and bonds underperform,” it said.
Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are a suitable option for investors who prefer not to personally manage properties.
Government bonds, especially U.S. Treasurys, are a common vehicle investors opt for during turbulence. Such investments won’t create massive wealth, but they can provide liquidity and income. And more potential interest rate cuts could mean good news for Treasury bonds, according to CBS News.
Investors can opt for short- or long-term bonds, depending on their needs. “Backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government, Treasurys are among the safest assets in the world. Short-term Treasury bills can serve as a temporary shelter when volatility spikes, while longer-term bonds help anchor a portfolio through economic cycles,” the AI said.
Gold is a popular safe-haven investment that experienced significant growth in 2025, but investors concerned about economic headwinds have choices beyond the precious metal for stability as well. As always when investing, do your due diligence and consider your own risk tolerance and time horizon.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Asked ChatGPT for the Best Alternatives To Investing In Gold: This Is What It Said