Alexander Lewis 
Jan 15, 2024
International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said artificial intelligence (AI) will impact 60% of jobs in advanced economies.
While speaking to AFP, shortly before departing for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the IMF chief —citing a report by Fund — said: "Advanced economies, some emerging markets, are going to see 60% of their jobs impacted.”
"And then it goes down to 40%, for emerging markets, 26% for low-income countries," Georgieva added, referencing the IMF report, which notes that overall, almost 40% of global employment is exposed to AI.
It should be noted that the IMF report observed that half of the jobs impacted by AI will be negatively affected, while the rest may benefit from enhanced productivity gains due to AI.
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"Your job may disappear altogether — not good — or artificial intelligence may enhance your job, so you actually will be more productive and your income level may go up," the IMF chief told AFP.
While AI will initially have a lower impact on emerging markets and developing economies, they are also less likely to benefit from the advantages of the novel technology, according to the IMF.
The report further mentioned that "this could exacerbate the digital divide and cross-country income disparity," highlighting that older workers are likely to be more vulnerable to the change brought about by AI.
Georgieva told the publication that the IMF sees an important opportunity for policy prescriptions to help address these concerns.
"We must focus on helping low-income countries in particular to move faster to be able to catch the opportunities that artificial intelligence will present," she said.
"In other words, embrace it, it is coming," she added. "So artificial intelligence, yes, a little scary. But it is also a tremendous opportunity for everyone."
