{
  "id": 14964939,
  "title": "IMF chief urges cooperation on AI and war risks, as US hails economic momentum",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/imf-chief-urges-cooperation-on-ai-and-war-risks-as-us-hails-economic-14964939",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-16T13:07:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/imf-chief-urges-cooperation-ai-and-war-risks-us-hails-economic-momentum-6466246"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva urged global leaders to collaborate amid various economic risks, including the rapid progress of artificial intelligence and the ongoing Middle East conflict, as the United States highlighted what it perceives as US-led economic growth. The contrasting perspectives were evident throughout this year's annual sessions of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Bangkok, where finance officials and central bankers from around the globe assessed a sluggish global economy characterized by high inflation, increased interest rates, and widening income disparity.\n\nThe IMF temporarily raised its global growth forecast to 3.1% in 2026, but this projection remains below the historical average. It flagged significant risks stemming from potential AI investment slowdown, mounting debt levels, and the prolonged Middle East conflict. Without the US-led war against Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered a substantial global energy shock, the IMF believed AI would have spurred more robust growth.\n\nGeorgieva, the first IMF chief from an emerging market economy, emphasized the urgency of international cooperation, stating that bond markets were becoming acutely aware of the risks. She highlighted that the IMF faced sleepless nights contemplating how to regulate AI and prevent developing countries from falling behind due to its rapid advancement.\n\nIn contrast, US Treasury Under Secretary Erin Browne dismissed the warnings, emphasizing record highs on the US stock market, robust US economic output, and improved economic conditions in Japan. She argued that the IMF should adopt a more balanced approach to examining the global economic outlook, acknowledging the potential economic benefits of American innovation, energy abundance, and productivity-enhancing reforms.\n\nEmerging market stocks experienced volatility in recent weeks due to expectations of higher US interest rates, which have led to sharply rising borrowing costs. Major markets were also impacted by concerns over the AI investment cycle. South Korean shares saw their largest weekly decline in 18 years, while Japan's stock market dropped 5.4% over the week. Eli Remolona, governor of the Philippines' central bank, expressed concerns that Asia had failed to learn from its destructive financial crisis in the late 1990s, urging caution against a similar situation.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf Times Business",
        "title": "IMF chief urges co-operation on AI and war risks, as US hails economic momentum",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/imf-chief-urges-co-operation-on-ai-and-war-risks-as-us-hails-economic",
        "published": "2026-10-15T21:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "AI risks may eclipse benefits without safeguards, says IMF chief",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/ai-risks-may-eclipse-benefits-without-safeguards-says-imf-chief",
        "published": "2026-10-16T08:58:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNA - Business",
        "title": "IMF chief urges cooperation on AI and war risks, as US hails economic momentum",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/imf-chief-urges-cooperation-on-ai-and-war-risks-as-us-hails-economic",
        "published": "2026-10-16T13:07:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}