ECONOMY

Analysis: AI Boom Raises Fears of Uneven Economic Gains

Published: May. 6, 2026 6:19 p.m. GMT+8

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Workers operate robots at an intelligent robotics industrial base in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, on April 28. Photo: VCG

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping the global economy, but economists warn the technology could widen inequality and disrupt labor markets before broad productivity gains emerge.

The growing tension between AI’s uneven productivity gains and its immediate impact on jobs is increasingly forcing policymakers to rethink how monetary policy, labor markets and social safety nets should function in an AI-driven economy.

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AI boosts economy unevenly, concentrating gains in few firms (PwC: 75% value in 20% firms) and tech hubs (Oxford Economics).
Widens gaps between cities, advanced vs. emerging economies (BIS); IMF: 40% global jobs, 60% advanced economies affected.
Debates on inflation/deflation; challenge is broad demand distribution.

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Who’s Who

PwC: A PwC survey released in April found that among more than 1,200 companies using AI, nearly three-quarters of the economic value generated was concentrated in just one-fifth of firms, underscoring concerns that AI may deepen disparities across companies and industries.

Oxford Economics: Oxford Economics' April 28 report states that AI will strengthen major business hubs like New York, San Francisco, London, and Beijing, while industrial hubs and rural areas risk falling behind due to weaker talent pools and lower AI exposure.

AI generated, for reference only