Global private-sector investment in artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to exceed $2 trillion in 2026, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) says in its latest annual report, identifying AI spending as a major growth engine. The fund estimates AI-related technology investment will lift U.S. GDP growth in 2025 by 0.5 percentage points, while faster U.S. productivity growth reflects the early effects of AI adoption. The IMF also warns that expanding AI infrastructure increasingly relies on debt financing. If future returns fall short of expectations, the resulting adjustment could involve significant asset-valuation declines, wealth erosion and corporate layoffs.