In the Global Risks Report 2024,149 we explored the risks of AI, focusing on market concentration and its effect on AI development, inequality between owners of AI technologies and those who are not, and on the use of AI in geopolitical and military conflict. With rapid developments in AI over the last two years, we revisit the risks generated by a world in which AI use is ubiquitous across systems and economies. AI has shifted from a frontier technology to a systemic force shaping economies, societies and security. The global market size for AI is projected to rise from an estimated $280 billion in 2024 to $3.5 trillion by 2033 (Figure 52). AI at large 2.7 –In a worst-case scenario for labour markets, increases in both productivity and unemployment could drive permanently K-shaped economies. –The potential for creativity, learning and leisure could give way to loss of purpose, meaning and contribution to society, coupled with erosion of alignment around objective facts. –The rising range of military use cases for AI will come with commensurate risks, in the worst case leading to rapid and perhaps unintentional escalation of conflicts. 2 years 10 years5.283.50 6% 23% 28% 22% 8% 12% 2% 6% 22% 21% 15% 5% 4% 26% Short (2 years) and long term (10 years) risk severity score distribution: Adverse outcomes of AI technologiesFIGURE 51 Source World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2025-2026Intended or unintended negative consequences of advances in AI and related technological capabilities (including generative AI) on individuals, businesses, ecosystems and/or economies. Note Severity was assessed on a 1-7 Likert scale [1 – Low severity, 7 – High severity]. The percentages in the graphs may not add up to 100% because ﬁgures have been rounded up/down.1 Low High 2 3 4 5 6 7Severity Market Size (US$T) 20211.0T2.0T3.0T4.0T 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033Global AI market size FIGURE 52 Source Grand View Research150 Global Risks Report 2026 60