Blackstone president calls for more equity to fund AI buildout as debt risks mount

Jon Gray, president and chief operating officer of Blackstone Inc., during the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit in Hong Kong, China, on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. This year's event brings together around 280 global financial leaders, including roughly 120 group chairs and CEOs, with the outlook for markets, the global economy and rapid advances in technology among the big themes. Photographer: Anthony Kwan/Bloomberg via Getty Images

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The artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout will need more equity financing as lenders become increasingly exposed to the companies driving the buildout, Blackstone President Jon Gray said Tuesday.

Speaking at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit, Gray said the scale of capital required for AI is creating concentration risks for debt investors, both across the sector and at individual companies.

Unlike shareholders, who can benefit from a company's growth, lenders have limited upside as their returns are largely confined to interest and principal repayments, he said.

There’s going to be more equity needed across this space to keep up with these enormous demands.

Jon Gray

President & COO, Blackstone Inc.

Speaking at the same panel, Pimco CEO Emmanuel Roman warned investors that the scale of AI financing could prove to be "too much" for markets to absorb.

Roman said AI-related capital spending could reach around $10 trillion over the next five years, citing General Atlantic CEO Bill Ford's estimate. He added that about $550 billion in AI debt had been issued in various forms so far this year.

Even with a mix of equity and debt financing, the amount required would be “gigantic,” Roman said, comparing it with a global corporate bond market of roughly $20 trillion.

“At some point in time, it’s going to be too much,” he said.

“The creativity is needed because the scale of capital is enormous," Gray said.