Chief Economists Outlook May 2025

30Chief Economists Outlook Figure 30. AI growth impact risks Through which channels do you expect AI to pose the greatest risks to sustained global GDP growth? (select the top 3) Misuse for disinformation and societal destabilization Concentration of market power Disruption to existing business models Increasing inequality Increased cybersecurity risks Rising unemployment and weaker aggregate demand Regulatory uncertainty or overreach High energy intensity of AI deployment Percent of respondents (%)53 47 44 39 39 28 25 25 Source: Chief Economists Survey. (2025, April).Capital deepening is another important AI-related driver of growth, according to the chief economists. AI funding surged in the first quarter of 2025,76 and current projections for future investment in AI now far outstrip earlier expectations.77 In the US, the Stargate Initiative alone – an investment partnership project including the government and the largest industry players – aims to invest $500 billion over the next four years.78 The EU launched its InvestAI initiative in February 2025 to mobilize €200 billion of AI investment.79 In China, an investment boom in AI is unfolding, with the central government announcing a CNY 1 trillion (Chinese yuan) ($138 billion) venture-capital fund for tech- focused investments.80 76 CB Insights Research. (2025). 77 Goldman Sachs. (2023). 78 Friesen, G. (2025). 79 European Commission. (2025a). 80 Reuters. (2025).