The WEF’s Global Risks Report 2026 warns that geo-economic confrontation and superpower competition now top the list of near-term threats, with AI disruption increasing as a structural risk.
Summary
- WEF Survey respondents rank geoeconomic confrontation and economic warfare above state conflict, disinformation and climate when it comes to the severity of near-term global risks.
- The report highlights accelerating advances in AI and quantum technology as emerging threats to jobs, inequality and geopolitical stability, with the risk that AI will take center stage in the longer term.
- The findings come ahead of Davos, where leaders will debate tariffs, debt and technology management amid growing fragmentation and fears of a “new era of competition.”
Competition between world powers and economic conflict have been identified as the top threats facing the global community in the near term, according to a new report released on Wednesday.
WEF publishes an annual Global Risks Report
The World Economic Forum published its annual Global Risks Report, which outlines the key challenges expected to arise in the coming years. The report asked respondents about expected risks over a two-year period, with about half citing economic warfare and geopolitical competition as their top concerns.
The findings indicate a shift in the global risk landscape, with interstate tensions and economic disruption predominating among the threats identified. The report also highlighted disruptions related to artificial intelligence as a key emerging risk factor.
Released annually, the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report surveys global experts, business leaders and policymakers to assess the most pressing threats to international stability and economic security.
Details on specific policy recommendations and the full scope of risks identified were not immediately available. The organization usually presents the report prior to the annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
