Mohammedia – The global digital economy is on track to grow three times faster than the wider world economy in 2026, reaching an estimated value of $28 trillion, says a new report by the Digital Cooperation Organization.
According to the report, the trend emerging in the global economy is the increasing role of digital activities supported by artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud services, and advanced connectivity.
The report predicts that the rate of growth in the digital economy in 2026 will be 9.5%, while the rate of growth in the global economy will be much lower. This means that the digital economy will contribute about 22% to the global gross domestic product in the next year.
The foundation of this report is a global survey of 400 senior technology executives, policymakers, and experts in the digital economy in 26 countries, accounting for about 80% of global economic output.
The survey uncovered 18 trends affecting the digital economy, out of which 12 are presently visible, and six others are likely to be disruptive in the next three to five years.
Sustainable intelligent ecosystems
Among the major themes underscored in the report is the rise of sustainable intelligent ecosystems. This indicates the increasing use of AI designed aptly for certain sectors, such as healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and finance.
Instead of using general solutions, companies are increasingly using designated AI solutions designed specifically for certain sectors and trained on certain data sets in order to solve certain problems.
According to the report, there is also an increased use of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), which allow organizations to share data in a safe and controlled manner.
On the other hand, sensors and edge computing are enabling ambient intelligence, where digital systems operate in the background to improve safety, efficiency, and service delivery in real time.
However, the growing use of AI puts pressure on energy infrastructure. This is because data centers and high-performance computing infrastructure consume large amounts of electricity, making clean and efficient energy a priority for the future of the digital economy.
Communities and trust at the center
The second major focus of the report is the social implications that come along with the digital transformation.
AI is also driving the change in the labor market, where some tasks are being reduced, while others are being created, along with the need for new skills.
The report notes growing concern about digital wellbeing, including the effects of misinformation, excessive screen time, and online harm.
The study also emphasizes the trend of increased use of immersive technologies to combine the physical and digital worlds.
Simultaneously, it warns of an emerging AI divide, where access to new technologies is limited to only a few countries.
Trust and Security is third among the major themes. According to the report, end-to-end cybersecurity is now considered the most influential trend among digital economies, owing to the rising dependency of societies on interconnected digital infrastructure.
Countries are also using digital sovereignty approaches by setting up local infrastructure of clouds and AI, which can increase robustness but also contribute towards a segmented global tech market.
Despite strong prospects for growth, the report points to some financial risks for investment in AI infrastructure.
It states that there are some cycles of funding, including those for chip makers, cloud service providers, and AI innovators, whose activities are dependent on one another.
Overall, the Digital Cooperation Organization identifies that the continued importance of investment in digital infrastructure, innovation, and the digital skillset is paramount for global competitiveness.
However, the organization sees that the importance of policy-making collaboration, global cooperation, and effective governance will be imperative in securing the global growth of the digital economy.
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