Will AI Contribute $15.7 Trillion to Global GDP by 2030?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- $15.7 trillion potential contribution to global GDP by 2030.
- Over 66% of developed nations have national AI strategies.
- Financial services and retail sectors are leading in AI adoption.
- Nearly 50% of AI pilots are scrapped before production.
- AI adoption challenges are largely sociological, not technical.
New Delhi, Sep 10 (NationPress) Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly establishing itself as the pivotal technology of the 21st century, with projections indicating an addition of approximately $15.7 trillion to global GDP by 2030, according to a report released on Wednesday.
According to the joint report by FICCI and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), over 66 percent of developed nations have already implemented national AI strategies, whereas only 30 percent of developing countries and 12 percent of least-developed nations have done so.
The report identifies four interconnected dimensions driving the AI race: compute, data, models, and talent.
Countries like the US and China are currently leading in AI advancements, focusing on specific interventions, while other nations possess significant potential for growth.
Particularly, sectors such as financial services and retail are at the forefront of AI adoption, largely due to their data-rich environments.
Conversely, critical areas like agriculture and public services are falling behind, hindered by fragmented infrastructure and funding limitations due to ambiguous returns on investment.
FICCI Director General Jyoti Vij emphasized, “AI is not merely a technological trend; it is a strategic competition that will shape economic and social leadership in the future. It is essential that we approach AI as a shared mission to create value for all.”
The FICCI-BCG report also pointed out that despite substantial investments, nearly 50 percent of AI pilot projects fail before reaching production, with less than one in eight prototypes achieving deployment.
Major hurdles include isolated infrastructure, a lack of skilled personnel, and cultural resistance. The report asserts that the challenges of AI adoption are more sociological than technical, with 70 percent of obstacles arising from human and organizational issues rather than technology itself.
Organizations that prioritize reskilling, cultural transformation, and workforce empowerment are more likely to translate AI into tangible business results, the report concluded.
“We are witnessing a marked divergence in the global AI landscape. Most developed economies have embraced national AI strategies, while those still developing are yet to embark on this critical journey,” said Saibal Chakraborty, Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG.