On Bloomberg, Arougheti said Ares is applying artificial intelligence across underwriting, sourcing, and operations while staying diversified across private-market asset classes. He flagged rising demand from institutions for private credit as spreads widen and capital rotates away from traditional lending, creating an opening for alternative managers to gain share.
When a $300+ billion alternative-asset manager tells investors it can deploy AI and capture private-credit demand in the same breath, it signals where institutional money is headed: toward firms claiming better underwriting speed, better deal sourcing, and better margins all at once. This is a capital-concentration story, not a tech story.
Ares and peers need to show concrete proof that AI changes deal speed, risk screening, or returns, rather than leaving it as earnings-call gloss. If spreads keep widening and traditional lenders stay cautious, private credit managers get real room to test that claim with billions in new loans.
Wall Street has a new favorite bundle: AI plus private markets. For firms like Ares, AI functions as an operating edge for a business already trying to absorb more lending activity. The winners in this phase may be the boring giants with data, distribution, and permission to put billions to work fast.
Filed to the Technology desk · Jul 31