Family Offices Bet on AI Despite Geopolitical Jitters

Seventy-four percent of surveyed offices identified artificial intelligence as their top priority, fueling a broader shift into public equities. Data shows that 81 percent of firms increasing their equity allocations over the last six months explicitly tethered those moves to AI conviction. Natacha Minniti, global co-head of the family office practice at JP Morgan, noted that many investors believe the danger of sitting on the sidelines outweighs the risks of entry.

While AI leads the portfolio strategy, the underlying investment landscape is shifting toward defensive and structural themes. Sixty-six percent of respondents highlighted geopolitical risk as their greatest concern, outranking asset valuations and persistent inflation. This nervousness has directed fresh capital toward infrastructure, now a priority for 36 percent of offices, alongside healthcare innovation, global security, and defense. William Sinclair, co-head of the family office practice, characterized this trend as a permanent transformation of the global order, arguing that the fragmentation of international relations is reshaping the entire investment opportunity set.