[IMF President: AI Investment Spreading Globally from the U.S., May Become a Driver of Global Economic Growth] Beating AI News reports, according to the *Financial Times*, International Monetary Fund (IMF) President Kristalina Georgieva stated that the wave of AI investment is spreading globally from the United States. As countries ramp up the construction of data centers and related infrastructure, AI is transitioning from being a U.S.-centric phenomenon to becoming a driver of global economic growth. Georgieva noted that the global economy has been impacted by the energy shock caused by the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but its actual performance has exceeded previous expectations. A decline in energy demand, the release of emergency oil and gas reserves, increased energy supplies from regions outside the Gulf, and growth in renewable energy and coal supplies have collectively mitigated the effects of the energy crisis. She pointed out that the current global economy is in a "tug-of-war" between the AI boom and the economic shocks from the Iran war. While AI investment remains primarily concentrated in the U.S., countries involved in the AI hardware supply chain and exporting related products globally are also benefiting. However, Georgieva warned that the energy shock is not over. With oil and gas reserves continuing to decline and the Northern Hemisphere winter approaching, a potential rise in oil prices could drive inflation higher, forcing central banks worldwide to raise interest rates. This, in turn, could increase government financing costs and weigh on economic growth. [Original Link]