IMF says AI investment keeps global growth around 3%, with major Asia benefits

PUBLISHED : 12 Oct 2026 at 12:15 International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva speaks during the IMF/World Bank 2026 Annual Meetings at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo: Reuters) Strong ⁠investment in ​AI infrastructure is keeping ​global growth ‌at around 3%, yielding major benefits for many Asian economies that supply the hardware, ​such ⁠as Thailand, said Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International ‌Monetary Fund. The artificial intelligence investment boom was a "demand shock, an investment ⁠shock" that could boost growth in advanced regional economies by a half to one full percentage ​point, and emerging Asian economies by 0.2 to 0.8 ​percentage ‌point, she said. "So that shift into higher gear ​is ⁠what is keeping the world economy growing ⁠at around 3%, despite the fact we are being dragged down by ⁠the energy supply shock," ​Georgieva told IMF and World Bank annual meetings in the Thai ‌capital.