BlackRock Adds to AI-Stocks Bet in $160 Billion Model Portfolios

The world’s largest asset manager is adding to bets on the artificial intelligence within its US model portfolios while trimming its overall equity risk because of tariff uncertainty.

BlackRock Inc. is increasing exposure to AI within its equity-heavy portfolios through the iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (ticker BAI). The actively managed fund quadrupled in size after it took in roughly $436 million on Tuesday, the largest one-day net inflows since its inception last October.

BlackRock’s shift underscores how institutional asset managers are reluctant to max out their exposures across the broad stock market, opting instead to lean ...