Trillions at stake as AI, quantum computing rewrites growth

Global GDP is set to expand by around US$56 trillion over the next five years, fuelled by rapid advances in artificial intelligence, quantum computing and other frontier technologies. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), the biggest opportunities are expected to emerge in IT services, advanced manufacturing and energy, alongside tech-enabled transformation across agriculture, education, healthcare, tourism and transport. “These expectations reflect a number of underlying trends, including digitization and technological deepening, industrial upgrading and the continued growth of service-oriented economies driven by demographic and consumer shifts,” according to WEF’s Growth in the New Economy report.

“Information technology (IT) services emerges as the dominant sector in terms of expected contribution to economic growth between 2025 and 2030, with a score of 11.5 – well ahead of all other industries.” The findings draw on two years of dialogue under the World Economic Forum’s Future of Growth initiative, incorporating the views of more than 11,000 business leaders globally. While sectors such as real estate, electronics, insurance and pensions, and chemicals and materials are less frequently identified as primary growth engines, the WEF notes that accelerating frontier technologies and the energy transition are expected to lift growth across most economies. At the same time, rising debt levels, societal polarisation and climate risks are emerging as key headwinds.

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