What a Fragmenting Digital Economy Means for Global Competition

Harvard Business | 05.06.2026 19:05
Digitalization has been a defining force of the past 25 years. As leaders set a course for what’s ahead, urgent questions loom: How might the U.S.-China technology rivalry reshape markets? Are digital accessibility gaps a perpetual drag on demand or a growth opportunity? Will the unprecedented investments in AI and mega-IPOs of frontier AI labs pay off or lead to a bust? Will the AI boom widen inequality and concentrate power or lower catch-up cost for challengers? The bets placed now will shape where the next generation of digital value is created and captured and how companies engage globally.