Issue Technological risks with the lowest multilateral preparedness

Summary

Respondents consider the multilateral system least ready for global technological risks. Multilateral preparedness for these risks was rated low in 2024 and did not improve by 2026. Meanwhile the perceived importance of AI and frontier technologies and of technology-driven power concentration rose sharply while preparedness lagged, so the gap widened. In the preparedness ranking of 28 risks, tech-driven power concentration placed 22nd, AI and frontier technologies 24th, cybersecurity breakdown 26th and geoengineering disasters 27th. Respondents judged that the international system is not equipped well enough to either identify or reduce these risks, and anxiety about cybersecurity breakdown persisted. The report regards the weak understanding of technological risks as a critical global vulnerability.