The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report identifies false and misleading information amplified by advanced artificial intelligence as the most immediate risk to the global economy, posing a threat to democracy and societal cohesion. Released ahead of the annual Davos gathering, the report emphasizes the rapid evolution of technology exacerbating existing problems. The rise of generative AI chatbots, exemplified by technologies like ChatGPT, raises concerns about the widespread creation of sophisticated synthetic content that can manipulate large groups. The report anticipates discussions on AI-related risks at Davos, attended by industry leaders like OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Microsoft’s Satya Nadella.
The report underscores the peril of AI-powered misinformation coinciding with upcoming elections in major economies, potentially leading to deepfakes and impacting societal polarization. The ease with which AI can empower malicious actors for cyberattacks is highlighted, along with concerns about poisoning data used to train AI systems, embedding biases that are challenging to reverse. Climate change follows misinformation as the second-most-pressing short-term risk, with extreme weather topping the long-term risks list, alongside critical Earth system changes, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and natural resource shortages. The report warns of reaching irreversible climate change tipping points within the next decade due to long-term Earth system alterations.
