Azernews.Az

By Alimat Aliyeva

Global investments in artificial intelligence (AI) continue to grow at an unprecedented pace. Spending is projected to reach $1.48 trillion in 2025, marking an increase of nearly 50% compared to the previous year. Analysts predict that by 2026, global AI investment will surpass $2 trillion, and by 2029, it could reach $3.3 trillion, making AI one of the fastest-growing technologies in recent decades, Azernews reports.

Experts note that AI is moving beyond startups and short-term hype, becoming an integral part of the global economy — much like electricity or the Internet once were. Governments and private companies are rapidly expanding data centers, acquiring advanced computing chips, and developing cloud infrastructure to enhance their digital capabilities. In this emerging landscape, global influence is increasingly determined not by territory or natural resources, but by computing power.

At the same time, public concerns persist over the potential for massive job displacement. However, labor market data tells a more nuanced story. Since mid-2023, the unemployment rate in the U.S. has risen slightly — by 0.8 percentage points in industries with low automation and by 0.7 percentage points in highly digitized sectors. Economists argue that these shifts are largely due to broader economic conditions rather than automation itself: as growth slows, companies often cut costs, disproportionately affecting workers in less efficient industries.

History shows that technological innovations do not destroy the labor market but transform it. Just as machines replaced manual labor and computers simplified document management, AI is now taking over routine tasks, allowing humans to focus on analysis, creativity, and strategic decision-making. Analysts emphasize that adaptation and continuous learning are becoming essential skills in this rapidly evolving environment.

Economists estimate that AI could boost global productivity growth by around 0.3 percentage points annually over the next decade, potentially generating several thousand dollars of additional income per person.

Experts identify several possible paths for AI development: Technological acceleration, where AI continues to drive rapid industrial and economic growth; A world of abundance, in which machines produce most goods, reducing human labor needs; Challenges of control, raising ethical and societal concerns.

Human-AI collaboration, where AI complements human capabilities — a scenario that is already beginning to take shape in many industries.

As AI increasingly integrates into daily life and business, societies face both opportunities and challenges. The key question is not whether AI will change the world, but how humanity adapts to harness its potential responsibly.