IMF Chief Says AI Spending Sustains 3% Global Growth Amid High Energy Costs
Kristalina Georgieva stated at the Bangkok meetings that AI infrastructure investment is driving annual global economic growth to approximately three percent.
Key points
- AI hardware and tech products now account for more than 10% of global goods trade.
- Major tech companies plan to spend between $660 billion and $690 billion on AI this year.
- The IMF predicts AI will eventually affect about 40% of jobs worldwide, with higher exposure in richer nations.
International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva stated on Monday that global investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure is helping sustain worldwide economic growth at approximately three percent annually. She delivered these remarks in Bangkok at the commencement of the annual meetings for the IMF and the World Bank, according to Reuters. This growth persists despite the headwinds created by high energy prices across various markets.
Georgieva highlighted that Asian economies producing AI hardware, such as Thailand, are benefiting most from this trend. She estimated that advanced Asian economies could see their growth rates increase by 0.5 to 1 percentage point. Emerging Asian economies might gain between 0.2 and 0.8 percentage points. This regional advantage stems from the heavy reliance on Asian suppliers for chips, chip-making equipment, and robots in the global supply chain.
Trade and Investment Context
The scale of commerce surrounding this technology is substantial. In a speech delivered in Singapore last week, Georgieva noted that AI hardware and related technology products now represent more than one-tenth of global trade in goods. Apart from the United States, China, and India, the leading participants in this trade are Asian suppliers. This commercial activity is fueled by major technology companies planning to spend between $660 billion and $690 billion on AI initiatives this year.
The IMF’s July outlook indicated that AI demand is boosting tech-exporting countries, while geopolitical conflicts continue to affect energy importers. The institution also predicted that global growth would remain at 3% in 2026. This projection underscores the significant role that technology investment plays in stabilizing economic forecasts despite other global uncertainties and supply chain disruptions.
Workforce and Regional Impacts
Georgieva cautioned about the profound impact AI will have on employment, describing the technology as a “slow-moving tsunami” that will transform jobs, education, and tax collection methods. According to the Fund, AI will eventually affect about four out of ten jobs worldwide. This transformation will improve some roles while rendering others unnecessary or worsening their conditions. The distribution of this impact is uneven across different economic tiers globally.
Richer countries face the highest exposure, with approximately 60% of jobs affected, compared to 23% in the poorest countries. Young people entering the job market are facing the initial impact because the routine entry-level roles they typically start in are disappearing. Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, speaking on the same panel, confirmed that the first rung of employment upon graduation is seeing reduced demand. He warned that without government action, AI could widen the growth and job gap between wealthy and developing nations.
What should you do?
Security and technology professionals should monitor how AI integration affects their organization's workforce planning and risk profiles. That suggests reviewing current job roles for automation potential and preparing for shifts in operational security responsibilities. Organizations must also consider the financial implications of the projected $660 billion to $690 billion in industry spending.
What to do and how to stay safe: IMF
- Review internal job classifications to identify roles most susceptible to automation by AI tools, particularly routine entry-level positions.
- Assess the organization's supply chain for dependencies on AI hardware and chip suppliers, especially those in Asian markets.
- Monitor regulatory developments regarding AI usage in financial systems, given warnings about Mythos-class models attacking infrastructure.
- Evaluate current training programs to ensure they prepare employees for a workforce where AI transforms education and job requirements.
Step-by-step guide: Prompt Injection Warning Signs: How to Spot AI Manipulation
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
How much are tech companies spending on AI this year?
Major tech companies plan to spend between $660 billion and $690 billion on AI this year.
Which countries are most affected by AI's impact on jobs?
Richer countries are most exposed, with about 60% of jobs affected, compared to 23% in the poorest countries.
What percentage of global goods trade does AI hardware account for?
AI hardware and related tech products now account for more than a tenth of global trade in goods.
