IMF lifts 2026 growth to 3.1% as AI boom offsets war shock
What's new: The fund warned 40% of jobs could be reshaped or lost to AI, with the share rising to 60% in advanced economies.
The International Monetary Fund raised its 2026 global growth forecast to 3.1% from 3% in July, saying AI-driven investment has helped cushion the drag from surging energy costs and wider geopolitical strains. Speaking at the IMF and World Bank meetings in Bangkok, IMF officials said the AI buildout delivered a demand and investment boost, especially in Asia, even as resilience in the broader economy is “reaching its limits.” The fund kept its 2027 growth forecast at 3.4% and said inflation next year is now seen at 4.1%. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva also warned AI could augment, downgrade or eliminate about 40% of jobs worldwide, with entry-level work and advanced economies facing the biggest disruption.