The global adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) will accelerate in the next 12 months. According to a new report from senior economists, this technology can significantly contribute to productivity increases across various industries, although there are concerns about the impact of investment in data centers on employment.
Increased Adoption of AI and Its Impact on Industries
Nearly 97% of senior economists believe that the adoption of AI will increase in the coming year. This is the highest level of agreement on any topic in this survey. Additionally, 69% of them expect AI to lead to a significant increase in productivity.
The report indicates that the benefits of AI adoption will extend to all industries in the next three years, although digital sectors are likely to lead the way. Expectations for productivity increases in industries such as agriculture, energy, materials, mining and engineering, construction, and public services have also been advanced.
Technology Competition Between the United States and China
The technology competition between the United States and China also seems to be closing in. About 69% of senior economists believe that China's large language models will fully catch up to their American competitors in the next 12 months.
However, the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure has raised concerns. About 78% of respondents expect that investment in data centers will significantly contribute to global growth, but 61% believe that these investments will not have a significant share in creating global jobs.
There are also increasing pressures regarding the infrastructure needed to support AI. About 79% of senior economists expect that the expansion of data centers will face serious resistance from local communities. Additionally, 78% of them have pointed to concerns about rising electricity prices for other consumers.
At the same time, AI-related infrastructure is expected to impact investment in energy. The report shows that 83% of respondents expect global investment in nuclear energy to increase in the next 12 months.
Overall, AI remains a major source of optimism for the global economy, and productivity increases and technological advancements are expected to support growth. However, the scale of future benefits will depend on the extent of widespread AI adoption across various industries and the impact of infrastructure investments on economic growth and employment.
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