‘Ghost GDP’: How AI boom could upend middle-class workers, global finance

In 2026, the global economic narrative has shifted from the initial excitement of AI to a more calculated and sometimes cautious phase. Citrini Research highlights a move away from the basic hardware race toward “Phase 2” of the AI trade, where the focus lies on operational efficiency and the displacement of high-cost human labor. While corporate margins are expanding through automation and lean structures, there is a growing concern over “Ghost GDP”.