Geneva, 03 April 2025 -The worldwide market for artificial intelligences is expected to reach $ 4.8 trillion -unfairly the size of the German economy -against 2033, said the UN on Thursday, warning almost half of the jobs worldwide could be influenced.
While AI transforms economies and creates enormous opportunities, the technology also runs the risk that the existing inequalities deepen, the UN Trade and Development Agency warned in a report.
In particular, the report warned that “AI worldwide could influence 40 percent of the jobs and offer productivity gain, but also expressed concern about automation and job displacement”.
Although earlier technological waves mainly influenced jobs of labor, Untctad emphasized that knowledge -intensive sectors would be the most exposed by AI.
This means that advanced economies will certainly be the most difficult, it said, adding that these economies were better positioned to make use of the benefits of AI than developing countries.
“The benefits of AI-driven automation often prefer capital over labor, which could increase inequality and reduce the competitive advantage of cheap labor in developing economies,” said UNCTAD.
In a statement, the Bureau-Chef Rebeca Grynspan underlined the importance of ensuring that people are central to AI development and insist on stronger international cooperation to “shift the focus from technology to people, so that countries can create a worldwide framework for artificial intelligence”.
“History has shown that although technological progress stimulates economic growth, it does not in itself ensure fair income distribution or promotes inclusive human development,” she warned in the report.
– $ 4.8 trillion –
In 2023, so-called boundary technologies such as the internet, blockchain, 5G, 3D printing and AI, a market of $ 2.5 trillion, with that number was expected to be six times in the following decade to $ 16.4 trillion, the report said.
And by 2033, AI will be the leading technology in this sector, with an expected value of $ 4.8 trillion, it turned out.
But UNCTAD warned that access to AI infrastructure and expertise remained concentrated in just a few economies, with only 100 companies, mainly in the US and China, which are currently good for 40 percent of global business research and developmental expenditure.
“Countries must now act,” said the agency, insisting that “by investing in digital infrastructure, building possibilities and strengthening AI -Governance”, they can “use the AI potential for sustainable development”.
“AI is not just about replacing jobs,” it said, that the technology “could also create new industries and strengthen employees”.
“Investing in adjusting rescilling, further students and workforce is essential to ensure that AI improve opportunities on employment instead of eliminating them.”
The UN agency emphasized the need for all countries to participate in discussions about the government of AI.
“AI is the economic future of the world, but 118 countries – usually in Global South – are absent in large AI board discussions,” said it.
“Because AI regulation and ethical frameworks take shape, developing countries must have a place at the table to ensure that AI is a worldwide progress, not just the interests of a few.”
APO/NL/YAD
