The global economy is proving more resilient than many expected. Despite persistent trade tensions, geopolitical conflicts and higher energy costs, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts global growth of 3.1% this year. Yet the picture is far from uniform.

A growing share of economic expansion is being driven by a small group of countries, with artificial intelligence emerging as a key engine of growth. The United States and China are leading the race for AI investment, but the IMF warns that the concentration of AI supply chains could create new vulnerabilities for the global economy.

At the same time, rising debt levels and higher borrowing costs are putting pressure on many governments, while poorer nations risk falling further behind. As global growth remains heavily concentrated, concerns are mounting over widening economic inequality and the long-term stability of the world economy.

This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.