IMF and OECD Warn AI May Widen Global Economic Divide

The International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned that artificial intelligence could widen the economic divide between wealthy and poor nations. While AI adoption could increase annual global growth by up to 0.5 percent, officials noted that developing economies, smaller firms, and younger workers risk being left behind due to insufficient digital infrastructure, power, and skills.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reported a significant gap between AI exposure and actual workplace use, noting that adoption in core business functions remains limited. IMF officials specifically highlighted that entry-level workers are vulnerable as AI automates tasks traditionally used for professional experience.

Simultaneously, the technology is driving corporate restructuring across several sectors. Barclays is cutting approximately 5,000 jobs to reduce costs, eBay is reportedly laying off 9 percent of its workforce, and Qualcomm is implementing a performance-focused global reduction.