JPMorgan warns up to $150 billion of loans in CLOs face AI risk

Core Insights - The artificial intelligence boom could disrupt between $40 billion to $150 billion of leveraged loans packaged into US collateralized loan obligations (CLOs) according to JPMorgan Chase & Co [1] - The impact of AI on corporate CLOs was a significant topic at the SFVegas 2026 conference, highlighting the need for CLO managers to assess their portfolios for AI exposure [2][3] Group 1: CLOs and AI Impact - CLOs provide investors with exposure to floating-rate debt by bundling leveraged loans into bond-like products with varying risk and reward levels [1] - JPMorgan strategists emphasize the importance of considering broader AI disruption on CLO credit risk, beyond just software loans [3] Group 2: Portfolio Assessment and Risks - CLO managers are currently evaluating which loans are most vulnerable to AI's impact, particularly following a selloff in software loans triggered by the release of Anthropic PBC's Claude chatbot [2] - Concerns have been raised regarding loan refinancing risks, with approximately $51 billion of software debt rated B- or lower maturing in 2028 and another $50 billion in 2029 [4] Group 3: Market Sentiment and Future Outlook - The large software exposure in private credit indicates a limited ability to refinance syndicated assets, contrasting with past trends of public-to-private takeouts [5] - While the diffusion of AI into the economy is expected to be gradual, there are risks associated with financial markets leveraging AI, which could lead to a reset of expectations [6]