Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, has urged governments around the globe to formulate policies anchored in artificial intelligence.
Admitting AI growth in advanced economies may be more than double the increase in low-income countries due to preparedness and adoption, the IMF MD said.
“Countries need policies that are grounded in the unique characteristics of AI, but agile enough to account for its uncertain path and rapid pace of change,” Georgieva stated in an article put out on Thursday.
The publication, which coincided with the ongoing 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Thailand, emphasized that reliable digital infrastructure and a skilled workforce are vital for successful AI adoption.
Additionally, more energy infrastructure is required to support AI deployment, with data centers expected to account for 3% of global electricity consumption by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency.
Advocating earnest preparation, Georgieva highlighted “three core principles” that could guide governments as they develop AI-tailored plans that would benefit their people and systems.
Policymakers were advised to “safeguard macroeconomic and financial stability,” while regulators and supervisors use existing tools, including capital and concentration requirements, to manage financial system risks.
Georgieva urged governments and the private sector to swiftly scale up their cyber defenses, adding that Central Banks can enhance security through resilience testing of banks.
”Governments should reexamine their medium-term plans through the lens of the AI transition .… invest in infrastructure and skills,” the essay reads. “They will need tax systems designed for the AI era.”
Under the “adoption and innovation” principle, Georgieva said that private capital could be complemented by public-sector investments in AI research and development.
She cited Sub-Saharan Africa, where mobilizing private finance for AI infrastructure entails both strengthening the business climate and providing targeted government subsidies and guarantees.
The IMF chief insists companies must be able to reorganize and reallocate resources so AI measurably improves their business: ”A dynamic AI economy should allow the smooth entry and exit of firms.”
Nations were encouraged to address structural tax distortions that favor legacy investments by modernizing tax systems, reforming insolvency regimes, and improving legal certainty.
Georgieva further suggests policies that “support workers and create opportunities,” stressing the importance of equiping people with cognitive, creative, and technical skills that empower them to use AI.
Acknowledging concerns about artificial intelligence, the economist believes AI holds the promise of a more productive world, where humans, aided by technology, achieve things never thought possible.
IMF chief urges countries to develop policies embedded in AI