Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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February 10, 2026 Economic development
Artificial intelligence today means different things to different people: for some, it's a powerful tool for solving global problems, while for others, it's a source of threats to jobs and privacy, as well as a lack of trust in online information. In practice, AI's impact is far more complex and significant.
The second edition of a report prepared by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and Deloitte shows that AI technologies are rapidly moving from the realm of experimental projects to widespread and diverse real-world applications.
While public attention is focused on generative models that create text, images, or code, more profound changes are occurring in the field of autonomous AI agents capable of planning tasks, making decisions, and coordinating actions with minimal human intervention. Such systems are already being used in healthcare, logistics, finance, and public administration, integrating into workflows and interacting with each other. But the more autonomy AI gains, the more important human oversight becomes—and this oversight must be carefully considered, the report's authors argue.
Applications of AI
The report states that AI is already delivering tangible results in key sectors. In education, adaptive systems tailor learning materials to individual students, and in regions with teacher shortages, digital tools are expanding access to quality education.
In medicine, AI helps detect diseases at an early stage, improves diagnostic accuracy, and accelerates drug development, while virtual assistants improve access to services in remote areas.
In the field of climate and ecology, artificial intelligence monitors environmental changes, optimizes energy systems, and warns of extreme weather events, helping countries adapt to climate risks.
In urban management, AI facilitates the optimization of transportation systems, timely emergency response, and effective modeling of infrastructure solutions. In agriculture, precision technologies enable more efficient use of resources and help farmers cope with climate instability and market uncertainty.
Growing risks
However, along with the opportunities come growing risks. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2030, the transformation could affect approximately 91 million existing jobs, while 170 million new ones could be created—a global net gain of 79 million. Meanwhile, employers expect nearly 40 percent of key skills to change, creating unprecedented pressure on education systems and the labor market.
The environmental impact is also becoming more pronounced: in 2024, data centers consumed approximately 1.5 percent of global electricity generation—a figure that could double by 2030. A single large data center can use as much energy as 100,000 households, making infrastructure resilience critical.
Digital sovereignty
To address these challenges, the institutions responsible for regulating AI must evolve to keep pace with the technologies themselves, the report's authors note. Governments around the world are striving for digital sovereignty by investing in their own computing power and technological components. New initiatives in this area view AI as a strategic resource comparable in importance to energy systems, and decisions about its development are becoming a matter of public policy.
The report's authors emphasize that AI does not automatically bring benefits. Its impact on society depends on how equitably access to the technology is distributed and how responsibly it is used. To avoid fragmentation and inequality, closer coordination is needed between governments, businesses, academia, and civil society organizations.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.