World Economic Forum Economists Forecast Weaker Global Economy in 2026 Amid AI and Debt Challenges

World Economic Forum chief economists predict a weakening of global economic conditions in 2026, with 53% expecting deterioration compared to 72% in 2025. Despite this, the outlook has modestly improved amid ongoing uncertainties from mounting debt, geopolitical shifts, and rapid artificial intelligence adoption. Economists highlight potential productivity gains from AI in the US and China and note varied regional growth, with South and East Asia showing strong momentum.