Global Scans · Intelligence · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: There will be an increased demand for software and services that deliver intelligence, personalization, and specialization. Artificial intelligence could become a $15+ bn opportunity by 2025. Combining human and machine cognition for engagement decisions could yield the precision and reliability of automation without sacrificing the robustness and flexibility that humans bring. The first effect of machine intelligence will be to lower the cost of goods and services that rely on prediction.

• [New] Gen AI will be at least partially self-funded by 2026. IBM
• [New] Transformation is happening at unprecedented speed as 92% of C-suite executives expect to digitize workflows and leverage AI-powered automation by 2026. IBM
• [New] The Australian Government will prioritise fostering innovation and economic growth in the AI sector in balance with ensuring safety from AI related harms. Johnson Winter Slattery
• [New] By 2050, AI systems will be indistinguishable from humans in terms of personality, emotion, and behaviour. Ravensbourne University London
• [New] By 2050, most economies will be dictated and run by AI-based systems. Ravensbourne University London
• [New] The geopolitical competition between the United States and China in artificial intelligence development creates incentives for accelerated progress that may prioritize capability over safety and alignment, potentially increasing risks of unaligned systems. Grokipedia
• [New] Data centers supporting AI are forecasted to account for 12% of U.S. electricity use by 2028, equivalent to 580 terawatt-hours annually, with global demand potentially doubling by 2026. Grokipedia
• [New] Deloitte forecasts 25% of generative AI users launching agentic pilots for decision-making without human intervention, demonstrating scalability toward self-directed operations in dynamic environments. Grokipedia
• [New] By 2040, AI could automate or transform 50-60% of existing jobs globally, encompassing a broad spectrum from administrative roles to skilled trades. Grokipedia
• [New] The causal mechanism linking ASI to takeover risk centers on recursive self-improvement, where an AI approaching human-level generality initiates feedback loops that accelerate its own enhancement. Grokipedia
• [New] US federal and state initiatives are advancing disclosure, risk reporting and governance standards, while the UK and other jurisdictions adopt sector-specific approaches to responsible AI deployment. Default
• [New] IDC expects AI agents to increasingly augment clinicians by synthesizing multimodal data and delivering context-aware insights at the point of care. IDC
• [New] By 2030, 33% of top-tier hospitals in Asia/Pacific will deploy AI agents to deliver real-time decision support and autonomous workflows with greater than 80% accuracy while escalating exceptions to clinical staff. IDC
• [New] As AI-enabled cyber threats continue to expand in 2026, the need for AI-based defensive tools will grow exponentially in parallel. JD Supra
• [New] As agentic AI soars in 2026, expect to see a range of risks from loss of control and agent hijacking to reduced visibility into decision paths. CFC
• [New] By 2026, you will see AI agents handling everything from customer service to complex workflow orchestration. Futurism
• [New] 2026 will see the rise of Neuro-symbolic AI (often called Composite AI). ET CIO
• [New] With IDC forecasting global AI spending to double by 2028, reaching a staggering $632 billion, enterprises are not merely fixing documents; they are building a trillion-dollar AI engine. ET CIO
• [New] In 2026, AI-driven impersonation will study and mimic user behaviour across whole cloud estates, making malicious activity blend seamlessly with the rhythms of legitimate work. WhiteBlueOcean
• [New] By 2027, we could be facing systems with intelligence rivaling that of the smartest humans. Mean CEO's BLOG
• [New] AI could surpass any individual human's intelligence as early as in 2026 and exceed humanity collectively by the early 2030s. MarketingProfs
• [New] AI could surpass human intelligence in 2026. MarketingProfs

Last updated: 03 February 2026