WEF President warns AI and crypto could fuel global economic bubbles despite $500bn boom
Artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies have become the twin engines of global growth — yet they may also be sowing the seeds of the next financial bubble. World Economic Forum (WEF) President Børge Brende said global investments exceeding $500 billion in AI this year alone are reshaping productivity, but warned that expectations may outpace real returns. He called for patience, balanced regulation and inclusive technological progress. This was reported by G.business, citing the World Economic Forum.
Tech investments drive growth but test patience
Despite geopolitical tensions, the world economy remains surprisingly resilient, Brende told the press in Berlin. He believes AI and emerging technologies could raise productivity by up to 10% in the next decade. Still, he cautioned that “massive investment doesn’t automatically mean sustainable growth” and urged for strategic, long-term thinking.
China–US rivalry defines new economic order
Brende identified the growing rivalry between China and the United States as the defining conflict of this century — not just for markets, but for technological dominance. “Whoever leads in quantum technology, superintelligence, autonomous vehicles or synthetic biology will become the world’s most powerful nation,” he said.
He added that the old world order “no longer exists,” and that global uncertainty and the decline in cross-border investment are among the biggest risks for 2026. Governments, he urged, must build investment-friendly ecosystemsthat allow technology’s benefits to reach all layers of society.
The next World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos will take place from January 19 to 23, 2026, gathering global leaders and CEOs to discuss innovation, sustainability, and digital governance. Brende’s warning sets the tone for a year in which optimism about AI and crypto must be balanced with realism about risk.
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