Spending on artificial intelligence is helping keep the world economy growing, the head of the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.

Kristalina Georgieva spoke on the first day of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Thailand. She said strong investment in AI infrastructure is keeping global growth at around 3%, even as the world deals with an energy supply shock.

"That shift into higher gear is what is keeping the world economy growing at around 3 percent, despite the fact we are being dragged down by the energy supply shock," she said, according to Reuters, as published by The Jakarta Post.

Many of the firms that build AI hardware are in Asia, she said. The boom could add half a point to a full point to growth in advanced Asian economies, and 0.2 to 0.8 point in emerging Asian economies, she said. The Nation Thailand reported that she expects the next wave of gains to come as more people adopt AI.

Georgieva also warned about jobs. She called AI a "slow-moving tsunami." The IMF estimates that AI could lead to 40% of jobs being augmented, downgraded or eliminated over time. The Nation reported that she warned younger workers could struggle to gain experience as routine work declines.

World Bank President Ajay Banga said the bank is focused on "small AI," simpler tools that can help farmers, clinics and teachers. "It is private capital that creates jobs. Governments enable," he said.

Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam warned that first jobs for graduates are drying up. "AI is going to widen the divergence if we are too passive about it," he said.

The IMF will release an updated world economic outlook on Tuesday. In July, it forecast 3% growth for 2026.

What we know: Georgieva says AI investment is holding world growth near 3% despite the energy shock, with big gains for Asian suppliers.
What we don't: What the IMF's new forecast on Tuesday will show, and how fast AI will change jobs.