Investment linked to artificial intelligence is helping hold global growth near 3%, even as higher energy costs weigh on activity, Reuters reported from the IMF and World Bank meetings on 12 October. The IMF’s assessment highlighted the strength of technology-related investment alongside risks from debt and market concentration.
The investment has spread beyond software companies. Data centres require chips, cooling systems, electricity and transmission capacity, creating orders for suppliers while raising questions about financing and future demand. If expected returns fail to materialise, a rapid pullback could affect markets and the companies building capacity.
The growth estimate is conditional on the IMF’s assumptions and forecasts. It is not a guarantee that AI spending will offset every shock or that current valuations are sustainable. The data-centre photograph is illustrative and was taken in Malaysia.