Wellington Management’s Matt Witheiler on whether we are in an AI bubble

AI Boom & Data Centers - The AI boom is considered real, and the focus should be on when it will end rather than if it's a bubble [1] - Debt is fueling the AI cycle by financing the data centers needed for AI compute [2] - Every AI company claims increased compute leads to increased revenue, which could indicate whether or not a bubble exists [2][3] - The ROI from AI investments is currently present, with consumers and enterprises deriving value [3][4] - Demand for data centers is high in the private markets [5] Private vs Public Markets - Private markets show broader enthusiasm for AI compared to public markets [6] - There may be more scrutiny and differentiation between potential winners and losers in the public markets [6] IPOs & Market Conditions - IPOs offer benefits like capital raising for data center construction and providing liquidity to employees, founders, and investors [9] - The market needs sufficient capital formation and secondary/exit liquidity to meet the needs of AI companies [10] - After a Q1 hiccup, the IPO market has largely returned to normal, supported by a stable/cutting Fed and a public market up 17% year-to-date [10][11][12] - IPO volumes are up 18% this year, with total proceeds up 89% [12] - The average IPO is up 30% this year [12]