FT poll says AI could lift growth across many G20 countries

In short: A Financial Times poll of economists suggests AI could boost productivity in many major economies over the next decade, not just the US and China.

What's going on

A poll of 94 economists across Asia, the US, and Europe found a relatively optimistic view of how artificial intelligence, also called AI (software that can produce text, images, or decisions by learning from large amounts of data), could affect the world economy.

In the survey, 54 percent said many or nearly all G20 countries would see significant economic and productivity gains over the next decade because of AI. Productivity is a simple idea, it means getting more output from the same amount of work, like a store serving more customers per hour.

Several economists argued that countries do not need to invent the most advanced AI systems to benefit. They said gains can come from adopting AI at work, importing cheaper AI-enabled goods and services, and learning from other countries’ know-how. The FT compared this spread to how the benefits of electricity and computers eventually reached many places far from where they were first developed.

The poll’s tone contrasts with warnings from some AI leaders, including figures at Anthropic and OpenAI, who have urged slower development because of safety risks from AI agents (tools that can take actions on a user’s behalf, like a junior assistant following instructions).

What to watch

Economists also highlighted risks. Some countries could fall behind if they lack reliable infrastructure, such as power and internet, with several respondents pointing to parts of Africa. Others warned that places relying on outsourcing work, like call centers and routine office tasks, could face faster disruption, even if overall unemployment does not rise sharply.

Source: Financial Times