Cognizant: AI to Add $4.5 Trillion to US Economy

On January 15, 2026, Cognizant released the "New Work, New World" report, forecasting that generative AI could boost US labor productivity by $4.5 trillion annually. The study is based on an analysis of thousands of workflows across various industries.

Analysts argue that we are at an inflection point: technologies are moving from experimentation to industrial operation. The main gain is expected not through staff reduction, but through the augmentation of employee capabilities in fields such as coding, law, and customer service. This tasks businesses with immediately restructuring operating models so as not to miss a slice of the "trillion-dollar pie."

Source: Cognizant / WEF