Science & Tech · AI · 17 hrs ago
IMF chief says AI needs safeguards and ethical standards
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva says AI needs safeguards or its risks could outweigh its benefits.
She made the remarks at the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, where AI was a major topic.
AI is already supporting the global economy, but its expected productivity gains may not arrive as quickly as hoped.
That uncertainty brings two risks: job losses if AI delivers major gains, or financial trouble if heavy investment does not pay off.
Georgieva said people need access to digital infrastructure and electricity, as well as adequate rules, to benefit from AI.
She supports industry self-regulation, but says governments and society must help set standards, especially in countries with large AI sectors.
The discussion pointed to a need for common-sense guardrails and ethical standards as the technology develops.
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva said artificial intelligence could pose greater risks than opportunities without safeguards and an ethical foundation.
She called for a mix of industry self-regulation and input from governments with major AI sectors and supply-chain roles.
Georgieva said people need access to digital infrastructure and electricity, as well as adequate regulation, to benefit from AI.
Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark supported common-sense standards, while US Treasury Undersecretary Erin Browne said the IMF should give more weight to AI’s potential economic benefits.
Economist Dani Rodrik warned that uncertain productivity gains could bring either job losses or a costly financial correction.
- Who
- IMF chief executive officer Kristalina Georgieva, alongside other speakers including Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark and economist Dani Rodrik.
- What
- Georgieva said AI needs safeguards and an ethical foundation. She backed a mix of industry self-regulation and government input.
- When
- Oct. 16, 2026.
- Where
- Bangkok, at the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank.
- Why
- Georgieva said that without safeguards, AI’s risks may exceed its opportunities.
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva
US Treasury Undersecretary Erin Browne
AI risks and safeguards
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva
Georgieva said AI risks may exceed its opportunities without safeguards and an ethical foundation.
US Treasury Undersecretary Erin Browne
Browne said the IMF was too focused on risks and should give more weight to opportunities for positive economic shocks, such as AI.
The IMF flagged growth and financial stability risks including a potential end to the AI investment boom.
Browne told Reuters that Washington was in talks with other IMF shareholders about adopting the …
Georgieva said AI risks may exceed its opportunities without safeguards and an ethical framework.
- Main speaker
- Kristalina Georgieva
- Location
- Bangkok
- Event
- Annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank
- Date of Georgieva’s remarks
- Oct. 16, 2026
- AI-sector countries named
- US, China and India
3 sources
What people are saying
If there are no safeguards, then the risks may exceed the opportunities. And above all, we do need an ethical foundation, and I’m not sure we are there as a society,
Yes. We need common sense standards, and that’s how you ultimately give confidence in the technology and build the economy.
That is clear when one considers the large investments required for AI, both in hardware and software development,
We don’t know which one of those two crises we’re going to have to deal with – whether it’s the jobs crisis or the financial crisis,