IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva highlighted the dual impact of artificial intelligence and geopolitical energy supply shocks on the global economy during a speech on October 7. She noted that the effects of these forces are distributed unevenly across different regions.
Investment in AI is projected to reach or exceed historical levels seen during the development of railways, power grids, and telecommunications infrastructure. Currently, AI hardware and related technological products account for more than one-tenth of total global merchandise trade, with this share continuing to grow.
The IMF estimates that effective implementation of AI could increase global annual economic growth by 0.5 percentage points. If sustained over a decade, this growth would be equivalent to the size of an ASEAN-level economy.
The organization emphasizes the importance of expanding global access to AI technologies. The IMF warns that the transition period between the current infrastructure construction boom and the realization of long-term economic benefits poses the greatest risk to financial stability.
