276: Rewiring Retirement Around The World: What Can We Learn?

Retirement planning is being transformed around the world. As people live longer, traditional pension systems evolve and governments face growing financial pressures, individuals are taking on greater responsibility for their retirement savings and income. But with no single global model for retirement, what can different countries learn from one another?In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido is joined by Casie Maurer, Head of US Defined Contribution at BlackRock, and Helen Lees-Jones, EMEA Head of Global Consultant Relations and Institutional Strategy at BlackRock. Together, they explore how retirement systems are changing across the US, UK, Germany, Australia and Mexico, and how policymakers, employers and the financial services industry are responding to the challenges of an aging population.From the evolution of 401(k) plans and automatic enrollment to the growing importance of retirement income, the conversation examines how different markets are approaching retirement planning. Casie and Helen discuss the shift from traditional defined benefit pensions toward individual retirement responsibility, the role of capital markets in supporting long-term savings, and why the next phase of retirement innovation may be less about accumulating assets and more about providing financial security throughout retirement.Key moments from this episode:00:00 Introduction02:37 Why Retirement Systems Are Changing04:15 Individual Investors Take the Wheel06:34 UK vs Germany Models09:18 Lessons From Reform10:46 Next Phase of 401k plans13:26 Australia and Mexico Comparisons16:03 Holistic Lifetime Planning19:32 Personal Pension Future21:17 Closing Thoughts  🔗 Watch and Subscribe to The Bid on YouTube: https://1blk.co/48iHOs4 🔗 Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://1blk.co/3v09q6Q 🔗 Follow Us on Twitter (or X): https://1blk.co/3NuiIOW 🔗 Learn More About BlackRock: https://1blk.co/41uwhDS Sources: 2026 BlackRock’s Read on Retirement survey; OECD Pensions Report 2025; “Investing In The UK Economy”, House of Commons Report 2025; “Department for Workplace Pensions”, UK Department for Work and Pensions Report 2025; UK Census 2021; United Nations population dataretirement planning, retirement income, pension systems, retirement savings, 401(k) plans, global retirement trends, capital markets, personal pensionsThis content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Geopolitical tensions are increasingly reshaping the global economy. Defense spending is rising, energy security has returned to the policy agenda, and competition over artificial intelligence and critical technologies is becoming an increasingly important part of national security. At the same time, conflicts and supply chain disruptions are exposing vulnerabilities in an interconnected global system.In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido speaks with Anna Parker, part of the Geopolitical Research and Strategy team at BlackRock, and Yasmin Meissner, portfolio manager for Thematic Strategies at BlackRock. Together, they look beyond short-term geopolitical headlines to explore what BlackRock calls the “resilience economy”—the growing focus on strengthening security and reducing strategic dependencies across energy, defense and technology.Anna examines how geopolitical shocks are changing the global energy system and why countries are investing in greater resilience. Yasmin explores the transformation underway in defense, from autonomous systems and counter-drone technology to software and space. They also discuss the geopolitical competition surrounding AI, the push for technology sovereignty, and why strategic choke points including rare earths, semiconductors and energy infrastructure could have increasingly important implications for global markets.Episode Chapters00:00 Introduction02:44 The Global Resilience Economy Thesis05:51 Investing Across Three Pillars08:01 Energy Shock Lessons11:18 Building Future Energy Resilience12:35 Defense Innovation Tour16:32 Modernizing Military Software17:56 AI Sovereignty and Supply Chains22:13 Choke Points to Watch24:56 Key Takeaways and WrapKey insights·      Why geopolitical fragmentation is reshaping the global economy and increasing the focus on resilience.·      How energy security is evolving as countries respond to geopolitical shocks and vulnerabilities in global supply.·      Why defense technology is changing, from autonomous systems and counter-drone capabilities to software and space.·      How AI is becoming part of geopolitical competition and driving greater focus on technology sovereignty.·      Where strategic choke points are emerging across rare earths, semiconductors and energy infrastructure.·      What the resilience economy could mean for investors as capital flows toward energy, defense and technology. Check out our previous episode on defense with Rolf Heitmeyer: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6QebK6raugH9Vr80NHO5Oi?si=x7fzE0kqSlSvFiqpxdq3HQ 🔗 Watch and Subscribe to The Bid on YouTube: https://1blk.co/48iHOs4 🔗 Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://1blk.co/3v09q6Q 🔗 Follow Us on Twitter (or X): https://1blk.co/3NuiIOW 🔗 Learn More About BlackRock: https://1blk.co/41uwhDS geopolitics, defense investing, energy security, artificial intelligence, geopolitical fragmentation, resilience economy, technology sovereignty, global marketsSources: “We can buy more weapons. We can’t buy more time,” Defense One, 2026; “Anduril, Department of War Sign Production Agreement for Surface-Launched Barracuda-500M,” Anduril, 2026; “Background Briefing on FY 2026 Defense Budget,” U.S. Department of War, 2025; “FY 2027 Defense Space Budget: Dramatic and Targeted Growth,” Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation, 2026; “Technological Evolution on the Battlefield,” Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), 2025; “Results of Ukraine’s Defense Industry in 2025: FPV Drones,” National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, 2026; “Leonidas High-Power Microwave: Directed Energy for cUAS, cUAS Swarms, Counter Electronics,” Epirus; “Estimating the Cost of Combat Operations Against Iran,” Congressional Budget Office, 2026; “Global Data Centre Outlook 2026-50: Malaysia Key Findings,” PwC, 2026; “Cloud Computing,” European Commission, 2026; “Oil markets strain to plug the gap left by Middle East supply shortfall,” International Energy Agency (IEA), 2026; “IEA Member countries to carry out largest ever oil stock release amid market disruptions from Middle East conflict,” International Energy Agency (IEA), 2026; “Middle East Crude Oil Exports Back at Prewar Levels, Analysts Say,” The Wall Street Journal, 2026; “Why oil prices haven’t gone crazy despite 5 months of US-Iran war,” Reuters, 2026; “Sheltering from Oil Shocks: Measures to Reduce Impacts on Households and Businesses,” International Energy Agency (IEA), 2026; “Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2025,” Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 2026; “Impacts of Middle East conflict set to reshape energy investment plans as disruptions put focus on security,” International Energy Agency (IEA), 2026.This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tokenized cash is emerging as one of the most tangible applications of tokenization in financial markets. While much of the attention around digital assets has focused on cryptocurrencies, a broader transformation is taking place behind the scenes as blockchain technology begins to change how cash moves, settles and operates across the financial system.In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido speaks with Beccy Milchem, Global Head of Cash Distribution and Head of the International Cash Management business at BlackRock, about what tokenized cash actually is and why it is moving from concept toward real-world use. They break down the differences between cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, tokenized deposits and tokenized money market funds — and explore why the distinction matters as digital assets become a bigger part of the financial ecosystem.Beccy also explains how tokenization could modernize the infrastructure underpinning capital markets, from faster settlement and around-the-clock cross-border payments to programmable transactions and potentially more efficient management of working capital. The conversation explores how digital wallets could evolve as more traditional assets become tokenized, why cash is playing an early role in this transition, and how regulation, interoperability and broader adoption could determine the pace at which tokenized finance develops.Episode chapters:00:00 Introduction02:31 What Is Tokenized Cash03:47 Crypto Stablecoins Explained07:14 Why Now For Tech Regulation09:15 Broken Payment Plumbing10:54 Programmable Money And AI13:05 Digital Wallet Adoption15:40 Global Rollout Currencies17:05 Mainstream Tests19:01 Wrap Up And DisclosuresCheck out our previous episode on tokenization with BlackRock COO Rob Goldstein: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3U90eOH07t94CI0fw1JCtn?si=41cae3f7090d4cb5 🔗 Watch and Subscribe to The Bid on YouTube: https://1blk.co/48iHOs4 🔗 Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://1blk.co/3v09q6Q 🔗 Follow Us on Twitter (or X): https://1blk.co/3NuiIOW 🔗 Learn More About BlackRock: https://1blk.co/41uwhDS Tokenized cash, tokenization, stablecoins, digital wallets, money market funds, blockchain, capital markets, digital assetsThis content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The AI economy is entering a broader phase as artificial intelligence moves beyond technology companies and into healthcare, manufacturing, financial services and other parts of the economy. At the same time, growing demand for computing power is highlighting physical constraints around electricity, semiconductors and critical materials.In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido speaks with Jay Jacobs, BlackRock’s US Head of Equity ETFs, about how the AI economy is evolving. They discuss where AI adoption is taking hold, what can distinguish productive implementation from investment without clear results, and why infrastructure is becoming increasingly important to the AI build-out.The conversation also examines the intersection of AI investing, physical infrastructure, megaforces and capital markets—from data centers and power generation to robotics, autonomous vehicles and digital assets.Key moments in this episode:00:00 Introduction to Where AI Is Heading Next02:07 Defining AI Economy03:33 From Experiments to Profits05:07 Potato Chip AI Playbook06:50 Healthcare Adoption Surge08:21 Power and Materials Crunch11:19 Physics Limits and Solutions12:52 Robots and Autonomous Future14:01 How Investors Position Now15:36 Digital Assets Meet AI17:31 What Comes Next for AI19:39 Wrap Up and DisclosuresKey insights:·      How AI adoption is broadening beyond the technology sector.·      Why having a defined use case can matter when companies deploy AI.·      Where power, copper and specialized materials may create physical constraints.·      How healthcare and manufacturing are applying AI to complex processes.·      Why robotics and autonomous vehicles represent a shift toward physical AI.·      How digital assets could support machine-to-machine transactions and micropayments.🔗 Watch and Subscribe to The Bid on YouTube: https://1blk.co/48iHOs4 🔗 Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://1blk.co/3v09q6Q 🔗 Follow Us on Twitter (or X): https://1blk.co/3NuiIOW 🔗 Learn More About BlackRock: https://1blk.co/41uwhDS  AI economy, AI investing, AI adoption, infrastructure, megaforces, capital markets, artificial intelligenceSources: 2026 Thematic Mid-Year Update “Welcome to the AI Economy”, iShares.com;This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The space economy is becoming more connected to everyday economic activity, from satellite communications and navigation to weather forecasting, defense and data. Falling launch costs, advances in satellite technology and rising demand for AI infrastructure are broadening the conversation around what space could enable.In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido speaks with Reid Menge, portfolio manager in BlackRock’s Fundamental Equity Group, about how the space economy is developing and the forces behind its growing relevance. They explore lower launch costs, satellite capabilities, national security priorities, AI infrastructure and the potential evolution of data centers.The discussion also looks beyond rockets and satellites to the broader infrastructure and capital markets ecosystem supporting space activity. Reid explains why cost and capability remain critical variables, how government spending can intersect with private-sector innovation, and why technical execution remains an important source of uncertainty as the industry develops.Episode chapters00:00 Introduction to Space Economy02:02 Space in Daily Life02:37 Space Investing Goes Mainstream04:40 Cost Capability Demand09:22 AI Meets Orbit11:18 Space Data Centers Explained14:39 National Security Imperative16:20 Where Opportunities Emerge18:29 Risks and Reality Check20:32 Next Decade Outlook22:28 Wrap Up and DisclosuresKey Insights from this episode:·      How falling launch costs could expand the range of economically viable space activities.·      Why smaller, lower-cost satellites are changing communications and Earth observation.·      How AI is increasing the potential value of data collected from space.·      Where national security priorities intersect with commercial space infrastructure.·      Why semiconductors, communications equipment and specialty materials form part of the space ecosystem.·      How execution risk and technological complexity could influence the industry’s development.🔗 Watch and Subscribe to The Bid on YouTube: https://1blk.co/48iHOs4 🔗 Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://1blk.co/3v09q6Q 🔗 Follow Us on Twitter (or X): https://1blk.co/3NuiIOW 🔗 Learn More About BlackRock: https://1blk.co/41uwhDS Sources: GPS.gov data 2026; “How geostationary small satellites are providing strategic access to space”, WEF 2025; “Big ideas, small satellites”, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; “State-of-the-Art Small Spacecraft Technology” NASA report May, 2026; Department of War Budget 2027; “Servers account for 60% of the total cost of ownership of a one-gigawatt AI data center”, Epoch AI; “SpaceX IPO: Musk's firm set to launch first 'orbital data center' AI1 satellites in 2027, will put compute on Starlink craft” DCD 2026; Department of the Air Force Posture Statement Fiscal Year 2027;space economy, AI investing, infrastructure, capital markets, megaforces, satellite technology, national security, data centersThis content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sports investing has evolved as franchise values have risen, live sports have retained a powerful hold on audiences, and ownership has become an increasingly sophisticated business. Yet sports teams remain unusual assets, combining economics with competition, community identity and deeply emotional fan relationships.Host Oscar Pulido speaks with David Rubenstein, co-founder and co-chairman of The Carlyle Group and control partner of the Baltimore Orioles ownership group, about his move from private equity into sports investing. They discuss his decision to invest in his hometown team, the role franchises can play in their cities, and how leadership differs when success is measured by more than financial returns.The conversation also explores the forces influencing sports investing, from rising franchise values and broader ownership participation to live media demand, AI-powered analytics and longer-term developments across capital markets.Key moments in the episode:00:00 Meet David Rubenstein02:10 Sports ownership and Civic Responsibility04:06 Camden Yards and Baltimore City Revival06:42 What Owners Really Do09:00 Winning Over Profits10:24 Long Horizon Decisions13:06 Sports as an Asset Class15:45 AI in Sports and Moneyball 2.017:11 Next 20 Years of Investing20:28 First Orioles Game Memories21:38 Closing and Up Next🔗 Watch and Subscribe to The Bid on YouTube: https://1blk.co/48iHOs4 🔗 Follow Us on LinkedIn: https://1blk.co/3v09q6Q 🔗 Follow Us on Twitter (or X): https://1blk.co/3NuiIOW 🔗 Learn More About BlackRock: https://1blk.co/41uwhDS sports investing, David Rubenstein, Baltimore Orioles, sports ownership, business of sports, sports franchises, private equity, Carlyle Group, private markets, AI investing, artificial intelligence, baseball analytics, sports analytics, live sports, media rights, franchise valuations, leadership, sports business, institutional investing, professional sports ownershipSources: Inside The Owners Box, David Rubenstein, September 2026This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sports and investing can both be shaped by small margins, repeated decisions and the balance between skill and chance. From tennis points to soccer matches and basketball shot selection, elite competition offers a useful lens for thinking about decision-making in capital markets.In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido speaks with Ronald Van Loon, Portfolio Manager in BlackRock’s Global Fixed Income Group, about the connection between sports and investing. They examine hit rates, payoff ratios, teamwork, preparation and the role of process in fixed income portfolio management.The discussion explores why a modest edge can matter when applied consistently, how different sports change the influence of chance, and why sports and investing both reward attention to probability, payoff and repeated opportunities. They also consider market volatility, stock market trends and the importance of continuous learning.Check out the previous episode on tennis here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/061EZSj3afpDQd7lL1FJUF?si=diYmU2axTAS26i7IxccxhAKey moments in this episode:00:00 Introduction01:42 Tennis Margins Compound - How small statistical advantages can compound across repeated decisions05:17 Winning the Big Points - Why probability and payoff need to be considered together07:55 Soccer Skill vs Chance - Where skill and chance differ across tennis, soccer and basketball.09:49 Teamwork in Investing - How teamwork can support decision-making across complex fixed income markets12:58 Olympics and Process - Why preparation and continuous learning remain central to a repeatable investment process15:20 Basketball Expected Value - How basketball’s changing shot selection illustrates the concept of expected value17:35 Three-Part Investor Framework18:57 Closing and Next Episodesports and investing, capital markets, fixed income, portfolio management, investment process, market volatility, stock market trendsSources: Van Loon, R.J.M. 2021. “Long-Term Investing and the Frequency of Investment Decisions”, The Journal of Portfolio Management 47 (8): 86-104; Van Loon, R.J.M. 2021. “Investment Skill and Consistent Long-Term Alpha”, The Journal of Portfolio Management This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2026 market themes have been shaped by geopolitical realignment, the physical demands of artificial intelligence and changing assumptions about diversification. Across markets, investors are confronting several plausible futures rather than relying on a single base case.Host Oscar Pulido is joined by Stevie Manns, producer of The Bid, to revisit conversations with BlackRock leaders and external guests. Together, they connect insights on geopolitics, retirement, AI infrastructure, market concentration, portfolio construction, Asia, digital assets and tokenization.The discussion explores how these subjects form a broader story about preparation. Listeners will hear why AI investing increasingly involves energy and physical infrastructure, how concentration is changing the character of major equity indexes, and why a more dynamic and granular approach may be relevant as capital markets evolve.Key insights:·      How geopolitical shifts are influencing markets, supply chains and economic policy·      Why AI investing depends on power, data centers and infrastructure·      How stock market concentration can affect diversification assumptions·      Why portfolio construction may require multiple scenarios·      Where Asia and digital assets are broadening the opportunity set·      How tokenization could reduce friction in financial marketsEpisodes featured:246: Macro and Geopolitical Outlook - Live from Davos248: Retirement Realities: Ask Me Anything With Jaime Magyera250: Powering AI 2.0: Why The AI Boom is becoming an Energy Story257: Beyond The Magnificent Seven: Discovering Equity Opportunities in the S&P 493258: Portfolio Construction for A Changing World: Adapting to A Market Regime Shift259: Cryptoassets At A Crossroad: Volatility, Adoption and Changing Market Perspectives261: Why Are Global Investors Looking To Asia As An Investment Destination264: Is Tokenization The Next Evolution of Financial Market Infrastructure266: Midyear Outlook: Scarcity vs Abundance in The Age of AI268: AI's Latest Frontiers: An Investor's Perspective on Space, AI and Equity Opportunities2026 market themes, AI investing, portfolio construction, capital markets, digital assets, tokenization, geopoliticsThis content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

AI investing continues to shape markets as artificial intelligence (AI) moves beyond software and into the physical infrastructure of the global economy. From data centers and chips to space-based compute, autonomous trucks and humanoid robotics, the AI buildout is creating new questions about scarcity, supply chains and where value may accrue next.In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido is joined by Tony Kim, Head of the Global Technology Team within BlackRock Fundamental Equities. Fresh from his 13th annual technology tour across San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Tony shares what he heard from leading innovators and how the AI conversation has evolved from model development to compute, infrastructure, physical AI and the changing shape of the technology stack.Tony explains why AI investing may increasingly require looking across multiple layers of the ecosystem: the physical layer of power, chips, data centers and cloud infrastructure; the intelligence layer of foundation models; and the application and services layer where disruption remains a central question. The discussion also explores how AI is creating both scarcity and abundance, why data center demand is reshaping supply chains, and how countries and companies tied to the compute build-out may be positioned differently from more service-oriented parts of the market.Check out our previous tech tour episodes with Tony Kim:2025 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ffqOgM2CDbJGEoaWjgjIP?si=418fdf5f886c4f622024 - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3ruCZNZ7vHghypqwnQzslg?si=e62206f037df409bKey moments in this episode:00:00 Introduction01:57 AI Wave Expands - How AI investing is expanding from model development into space, robotics and physical systems.05:28 AI Goes To Space - How low Earth orbit satellites could create new forms of AI data and, potentially, new compute architectures.07:51 Physical AI Adoption - Why autonomous vehicles, self-driving trucks and humanoid robots are part of the broader physical AI story10:00 Rewiring The Internet14:38 Where To Invest Now - How the shift in market value toward compute and model-centric companies is reshaping stock market trends.18:55 Risks And Optimism22:38 Wrap Up And What's Next on The Bid AI investing, artificial intelligence, technology investing, capital markets, megaforces, data centers, robotics, stock market trendsSources: BlackRock Fundamental Equities analysis of AI-related capex spending through 2030, as of July 2026; “How much does a GW of data center capacity actually cost” Investing.com, 2025; S&P Global Indices as at July 14th 2026This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Defense investing is rapidly moving from the margins to the center of capital markets as geopolitical fragmentation, rising global tensions, and technological innovation reshape how nations allocate resources. What was once viewed as a niche or even overlooked sector is now emerging as a critical pillar of global infrastructure and security.In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido sits down with Rolf Heitmeyer, Head of Industrials in BlackRock’s Fundamental Equities Group, to explore the forces driving this shift in defense investing. They discuss the surge in global defense spending, the changing competitive landscape between incumbent contractors and new entrants, and how innovation - from AI-enabled systems to low-cost drones - is transforming modern warfare.As geopolitical megaforces continue to evolve and technology reshapes security priorities, defense investing is becoming an increasingly relevant theme for investors seeking to understand the intersection of global politics, innovation, and markets.Key moments in this episode:00:00 Introduction01:41 AI Spending Surge Explained04:52 Tech Industry Shakeup Ahead07:14 Attritable vs Exquisite09:49 Scaling the Arsenal11:32 Startup Innovation Tour14:39 Defense in Portfolios16:05 A Long Supercycle17:13 Wrap Up and DisclosuresDefense investing, capital markets, AI investing, megaforces, geopolitical risk, stock market trends, defense technologySources: “Venture capital investment in defense tech surges while M&A activity slows” S&P Global March 2026; “Over 11,000 munitions in 16 Days of the Iran War: ‘Command of the Reload’ Governs Endurance” RUSI, March 2026; Department of War Statistics; Data from BlackRock Fundamental Equities as of April 2026.This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.