UNCTAD: AI to Disrupt 40% of Global Jobs, Market Size Equals Germany’s Economy

UNCTAD: AI to Disrupt 40% of Global Jobs, Market Size Equals Germany’s Economy

UNCTAD Reveals Global Inequality in Technological Transformation

The United Nations, through its UNCTAD body, projects that artificial intelligence (AI) will impact around 40% of jobs globally, with the most significant effects seen in developed nations. Cognitive-based roles such as finance, legal, and digital media are among the most vulnerable to automation.

UNCTAD also reports that the global AI market is projected to reach USD 4.8 trillion by 2033, equivalent to the current GDP of Germany – an exponential increase from USD 189 billion in 2023. Market dominance is heavily concentrated, with 100 major companies – mostly from the US and China – absorbing 40% of global R&D spending in AI.

The digital divide is widening: only 30% of developing countries have national AI strategies. Moreover, over 118 nations in the Global South remain excluded from global AI governance talks, raising concerns over data exploitation and unequal tech access.