IMF urges cooperation as AI and wars test the global economy

International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva urged governments to cooperate on risks from artificial intelligence, debt and prolonged wars as finance officials met in Bangkok. The IMF has raised its 2026 global growth forecast slightly to 3.1%, still below the historical average, while warning that an AI investment reversal or further energy shocks could weaken the outlook.

Georgieva said rapid technological change could widen the gap between advanced and poorer economies unless policymakers build safeguards and broaden access. An Associated Press report from the meetings described discussion of job displacement, digital access and cyber security alongside AI’s productivity potential. The US Treasury offered a more optimistic view, arguing that American innovation and resilient growth could produce positive economic surprises.

The disagreement is not over whether AI matters, but over how its gains and risks will be distributed. The IMF said demand for concessional lending has risen sharply since the pandemic, while financial markets have shown growing doubts about debt-heavy AI investment. No single regulatory framework emerged from the meetings. The practical measure of progress will be whether governments coordinate financial safeguards and worker support without cutting developing countries off from the technology’s benefits.