IMF Sees AI Investment Spreading Globally, Lifting Growth

Artificial intelligence spending is expanding beyond software into semiconductors, data centres and power infrastructure, creating a new source of capital investment and productivity gains. The International Monetary Fund estimates that AI could add as much as 0.8 percentage points to annual global GDP growth over the medium term, although the eventual payoff will depend on broader adoption, workforce skills and whether countries can secure the energy and computing capacity needed to deploy the technology.

The IMF said on August 25 that the investment boom was beginning to spread beyond the US, broadening AI’s contribution to global activity. Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the world economy should remain resilient enough to absorb geopolitical and energy shocks. In its July 8 World Economic Outlook update, the fund projected global growth of 3.0% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027, with technology-related demand partly cushioning the drag on energy-importing economies.