The Global Risks Index
NXS-GRX · XT-20 · Exponential technology series

Converging technologies

Risks that emerge where frontier technologies combine (AI with biotechnology, autonomy with cyber, compute with energy) and outrun single-technology governance.

Page GRX-SER-XT-20Edition Baseline Edition 2026Evidence close 2026-09-30Subject NXS-GRX proposedNexus Reports XT-20 (planned)Values not yet publishedSnapshot 31a753f76
FIG 1 · Series at a glance
Domain indices

4

Health security risk · Governance weakness · Cyber risk · Technology concentration risk

Indicators

102

4 index domains

Hazard families

20

Frontier and exponential technology · Systemic and compound events

Methods

77

Cyber, AI and frontier technology · Networks, dependency and systemic risk

Counts from the indicator, hazard and model registries.
4
domain indices
102
indicators in scope
2
hazard domains
4
client groups
01Scope

Scope and questions

The subject of this index is proposed by NXS-GRX (canonical data, provenance and risk); the Nexus Reports edition with the same code sets its own subject at commissioning, and any difference is recorded as a crosswalk.

  1. Which technology combinations create new hazard classes?
  2. Where does convergence outrun governance?
  3. What early signals should be watched?
02Construction

Domain indices to the series index

The series index is the expert-weighted geometric mean of its domain indices, with the intervals and class rule of the methodology.

computation
How the Converging technologies index is built
Graph8 nodes
Graph
01Domain indices
02Series index
03Readings
100%
List
  1. Health security risk
    Domain index · IDX · HLT
    INFORM-style aggregation, on 0 to 10, of epidemic and AMR hazard, disease burden and undernutrition against health-system and IHR capacity, each component oriented by its own polarity.
  2. Governance weakness
    Domain index · IDX · GOV
    Weighted aggregation, on 0 to 10, of governance quality, rule of law, policy and institutional quality and statistical capacity, each oriented by its own polarity so that higher values mean weaker governance.
  3. Cyber risk
    Domain index · IDX · CYB
    Index of cyber incident pressure, digital dependence and the lack of cyber capability on a 0-10 scale, higher meaning riskier.
  4. Technology concentration risk
    Domain index · IDX · TEC
    Index of technology dependence, critical-mineral dependence and, inverted, innovation capacity and biosecurity oversight, on a 0-10 scale, higher meaning riskier.
  5. Converging technologies index
    Series index · SERIES · XT-20
    Risks that emerge where frontier technologies combine (AI with biotechnology, autonomy with cyber, compute with energy) and outrun single-technology governance.
  6. Country readings
    Output · OUTPUT · 195 profiles
    Published with intervals and classes when the edition is released.
  7. Regional readings
    Output · OUTPUT · 5 regions
    Published with intervals and classes when the edition is released.
  8. Global reading
    Output · OUTPUT · population or exposure weighted
    Published with intervals and classes when the edition is released.
Not runIn progressDone
FIG 2. Select a domain index to open its full construction; Simulate run plays the computation.
03Indices

Domain indices in this series

NXS-GRX · XT-20 · 195 profiles · 0–10 scale
Converging technologies index, world
—
Values publish with the edition; the interval, class and change appear here.
IndexValueChangeChange %90% intervalClass · probabilityTrendRange
Health security riskNXS-GRX · HLT—————
Governance weaknessNXS-GRX · GOV—————
Cyber riskNXS-GRX · CYB—————
Technology concentration riskNXS-GRX · TEC—————

Domains read: Technology and frontier, Cyber and digital, Health, Governance and institutions.

04Indicators

102 indicators in scope

Every indicator whose primary or secondary domain is in scope, with unit, levels and crosswalks to source code lists.

FIG 3 · Indicators in scope, by domain and sub-domain
HLT · 31GOV · 20CYB · 13TEC · 8
Area is the number of indicator definitions; colour is the pillar the domain feeds (Macroeconomy and Space feed through their indices). Select a block to filter the table.
IndicatorDomainSub-domainComponentUnitLevelsCrosswalks
LIC-DSF composite indicator score (published, reference)IND.FIS.capacity.lic_dsf_composite_indicatorFISDebt-carrying capacitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRY
Net import reliance for critical mineralsIND.ECO.concentration.critical_minerals_import_relianceECOExport and import concentrationvulnerability%COUNTRY
Economic readiness for adaptation investmentIND.CLI.adaptation.economic_readinessCLIAdaptation readinessadaptive capacity{score}COUNTRYND_GAIN economic
Governance readiness for adaptationIND.CLI.adaptation.governance_readinessCLIAdaptation readinessadaptive capacity{score}COUNTRYND_GAIN governance
Days of dangerous humid heat per yearIND.HAZ.heat.dangerous_heat_daysHAZExtreme heathazardd/aCOUNTRY, ADM1, CITY, GRIDUNDRR_HIPS_2025 MH0501
Heatwave exposure events per personIND.HAZ.heat.heatwave_person_daysHAZExtreme heatexposured/aCOUNTRY, ADM1, CITY
Population exposed to extreme heat, shareIND.HAZ.heat.heat_population_exposed.shareHAZExtreme heatexposure%COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY
PM2.5 exposure, population-weighted meanIND.ENV.air.pm25_exposureENVAir qualityhazardug/m3COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY, GRIDWB_WDI EN.ATM.PM25.MC.M3 SDG 11.6.2 EPI PMD
Population exposed above the WHO PM2.5 guideline, shareIND.ENV.air.pm25_guideline_exceedance.shareENVAir qualityexposure%COUNTRY, ADM1, CITYWB_WDI EN.ATM.PM25.MC.ZS
Seasonal peak ozone exposureIND.ENV.air.ozone_exposureENVAir qualityhazard[ppb]COUNTRY, ADM1, CITY, GRID
Population using safely managed drinking waterIND.WAT.access.safely_managed_drinking_water.shareWATDrinking water and sanitationvulnerability%COUNTRY, ADM1, CITYSDG 6.1.1 WB_WDI SH.H2O.SMDW.ZS EPI UWD
Population using at least basic drinking waterIND.WAT.access.basic_drinking_water.shareWATDrinking water and sanitationvulnerability%COUNTRY, ADM1WB_WDI SH.H2O.BASW.ZS
Population using safely managed sanitationIND.WAT.access.safely_managed_sanitation.shareWATDrinking water and sanitationvulnerability%COUNTRY, ADM1, CITYWB_WDI SH.STA.SMSS.ZS SDG 6.2.1 EPI USD
Population with basic hand-washing facilitiesIND.WAT.access.basic_handwashing.shareWATDrinking water and sanitationvulnerability%COUNTRY, ADM1WB_WDI SH.STA.HYGN.ZS SDG 6.2.1
Dependency ratio on external renewable waterIND.WAT.dependence.external_water_dependencyWATTransboundary dependenceexposure%COUNTRY
Transboundary basin area with operational cooperationIND.WAT.dependence.transboundary_cooperation.shareWATTransboundary dependencecoping capacity%COUNTRYSDG 6.5.2
Under-five mortality rateIND.HLT.burden.under5_mortalityHLTDisease burden and mortalityvulnerability/10*3COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.DYN.MORT SDG 3.2.1 WHO_GHO MDG_0000000007
Neonatal mortality rateIND.HLT.burden.neonatal_mortalityHLTDisease burden and mortalityvulnerability/10*3COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.DYN.NMRT SDG 3.2.2
Maternal mortality ratioIND.HLT.burden.maternal_mortalityHLTDisease burden and mortalityvulnerability/10*5COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.STA.MMRT SDG 3.1.1 WHO_GHO MDG_0000000026
Life expectancy at birthIND.HLT.burden.life_expectancyHLTDisease burden and mortalityvulnerabilityaCOUNTRYWB_WDI SP.DYN.LE00.IN WHO_GHO WHOSIS_000001
Premature mortality from major non-communicable diseasesIND.HLT.burden.ncd_premature_mortalityHLTDisease burden and mortalityvulnerability%COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.DYN.NCOM.ZS SDG 3.4.1 WHO_GHO NCDMORT3070
Tuberculosis incidenceIND.HLT.burden.tb_incidenceHLTDisease burden and mortalityhazard/10*5COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.TBS.INCD SDG 3.3.2 WHO_GHO MDG_0000000020
Malaria incidenceIND.HLT.burden.malaria_incidenceHLTDisease burden and mortalityhazard/10*3COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.MLR.INCD.P3 SDG 3.3.3 WHO_GHO SDGMALARIA
HIV incidenceIND.HLT.burden.hiv_incidenceHLTDisease burden and mortalityhazard/10*3COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.HIV.INCD.TL.P3 SDG 3.3.1 WHO_GHO SDGHIV WB_WDI SH.HIV.INCD.ZS
Medical doctors per 1,000 populationIND.HLT.system.physician_densityHLTHealth system capacitycoping capacity/10*3COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.MED.PHYS.ZS WHO_GHO HWF_0001 SDG 3.c.1
Nurses and midwives per 1,000 populationIND.HLT.system.nurse_midwife_densityHLTHealth system capacitycoping capacity/10*3COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.MED.NUMW.P3 WHO_GHO HWF_0006 SDG 3.c.1
Hospital beds per 1,000 populationIND.HLT.system.hospital_bedsHLTHealth system capacitycoping capacity/10*3COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.MED.BEDS.ZS WHO_GHO WHS6_102
UHC service coverage indexIND.HLT.system.uhc_service_coverageHLTHealth system capacitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYSDG 3.8.1 WHO_GHO UHC_INDEX_REPORTED WB_WDI SH.UHC.SRVS.CV.XD
Population with catastrophic out-of-pocket health spendingIND.HLT.system.catastrophic_oopHLTHealth system capacityvulnerability%COUNTRYSDG 3.8.2 WB_WDI SH.UHC.OOPC.10.ZS
Out-of-pocket spending, share of current health expenditureIND.HLT.system.oop_shareHLTHealth system capacityvulnerability%COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.XPD.OOPC.CH.ZS WHO_GHO GHED_OOPSCHE_SHA2011
Current health expenditure, share of GDPIND.HLT.system.health_expenditure.gdpHLTHealth system capacitycoping capacity%COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.XPD.CHEX.GD.ZS
DTP3 immunisation coverageIND.HLT.system.dtp3_coverageHLTHealth system capacitycoping capacity%COUNTRYWHO_GHO WHS4_100 WB_WDI SH.IMM.IDPT SDG 3.b.1
Second-dose measles immunisation coverageIND.HLT.system.mcv2_coverageHLTHealth system capacitycoping capacity%COUNTRYWHO_GHO MCV2 WB_WDI SH.IMM.MEA2 SDG 3.b.1
Births attended by skilled health personnelIND.HLT.system.skilled_birth_attendanceHLTHealth system capacitycoping capacity%COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.STA.BRTC.ZS SDG 3.1.2
Travel time to the nearest health facilityIND.HLT.system.health_facility_travel_timeHLTHealth system capacityvulnerabilityminCOUNTRY, ADM1, ADM2, CITY, GRID
IHR core capacity score (SPAR)IND.HLT.security.spar_capacityHLTHealth security (IHR)coping capacity{score}COUNTRYSDG 3.d.1 WHO_GHO SDGIHR2021 WHO_GHO SDGIHR2018
IHR laboratory capacity (SPAR C4)IND.HLT.security.spar_laboratoryHLTHealth security (IHR)coping capacity{score}COUNTRYSPAR C4 WHO_GHO IHRSPAR2_C04 JEE D1
IHR surveillance capacity (SPAR C5)IND.HLT.security.spar_surveillanceHLTHealth security (IHR)coping capacity{score}COUNTRYSPAR C5 WHO_GHO IHRSPAR2_C05 JEE D2
IHR health emergency management capacity (SPAR C7)IND.HLT.security.spar_emergency_managementHLTHealth security (IHR)coping capacity{score}COUNTRYSPAR C7 WHO_GHO IHRSPAR2_C07 JEE R1
IHR risk communication capacity (SPAR C10)IND.HLT.security.spar_risk_communicationHLTHealth security (IHR)coping capacity{score}COUNTRYSPAR C10 WHO_GHO IHRSPAR2_C10 JEE R5
Epidemic event frequencyIND.HLT.epidemic.outbreak_event_frequencyHLTEpidemic and outbreakhazard1COUNTRY, ADM1
Reported cholera cases, per 100,000 populationIND.HLT.epidemic.cholera_cases.p100kHLTEpidemic and outbreakhazard/10*5COUNTRYWHO_GHO CHOLERA_0000000001
Bloodstream infections due to MRSAIND.HLT.amr.mrsa_bloodstreamHLTAntimicrobial resistancehazard%COUNTRYWHO_GHO AMR_INFECT_MRSA SDG 3.d.2
Bloodstream infections due to E. coli resistant to third-generation cephalosporinsIND.HLT.amr.ecoli_3gc_bloodstreamHLTAntimicrobial resistancehazard%COUNTRYWHO_GHO AMR_INFECT_ECOLI SDG 3.d.2
Stunting among children under fiveIND.HLT.nutrition.stuntingHLTNutritionvulnerability%COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.STA.STNT.ME.ZS SDG 2.2.1 WHO_GHO NUTSTUNTINGPREV FAO_FAOSTAT 21025
Wasting among children under fiveIND.HLT.nutrition.wastingHLTNutritionvulnerability%COUNTRY, ADM1WB_WDI SH.STA.WAST.ZS SDG 2.2.2 WHO_GHO NUTRITION_WH_2 FAO_FAOSTAT 21026
Anaemia among women of reproductive ageIND.HLT.nutrition.anaemia_womenHLTNutritionvulnerability%COUNTRYWB_WDI SH.ANM.ALLW.ZS WHO_GHO NUTRITION_ANAEMIA_REPRODUCTIVEAGE_PREV SDG 2.2.3 FAO_FAOSTAT 21043
Seats held by women in national parliamentIND.SOC.gender.women_in_parliamentSOCGenderadaptive capacity%COUNTRYWB_WDI SG.GEN.PARL.ZS SDG 5.5.1
Population aged 65 and over, share of totalIND.DEM.structure.share_65plusDEMAge structurevulnerability%COUNTRYWB_WDI SP.POP.65UP.TO.ZS
Attacks on health careIND.CON.civilian.attacks_on_health_careCONCivilian harmimpact1COUNTRY
Voice and accountability (WGI)IND.GOV.quality.voice_accountabilityGOVGovernance qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WGI GOV_WGI_VA.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_VA.EST
Political stability and absence of violence (WGI)IND.GOV.quality.political_stabilityGOVGovernance qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WGI GOV_WGI_PV.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_PV.EST
Government effectiveness (WGI)IND.GOV.quality.government_effectivenessGOVGovernance qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WGI GOV_WGI_GE.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_GE.EST
Control of corruption (WGI)IND.GOV.quality.control_of_corruptionGOVGovernance qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WGI GOV_WGI_CC.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_CC.EST
Corruption Perceptions Index (Transparency International)IND.GOV.quality.corruption_perceptionsGOVGovernance qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRY
Press freedom score (RSF)IND.GOV.quality.press_freedomGOVGovernance qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRY
Rule of law (WGI)IND.GOV.rule_of_law.rule_of_lawGOVRule of lawcoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WGI GOV_WGI_RL.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_RL.EST
Property rights and rule-based governance (CPIA)IND.GOV.rule_of_law.property_rightsGOVRule of lawcoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WDI IQ.CPA.PROP.XQ
Unsentenced detainees, share of prison populationIND.GOV.rule_of_law.unsentenced_detaineesGOVRule of lawvulnerability%COUNTRYSDG 16.3.2
Bribery incidence among firmsIND.GOV.rule_of_law.bribery_incidence_firmsGOVRule of lawvulnerability%COUNTRYWB_WDI IC.FRM.BRIB.ZS SDG 16.5.2
Regulatory quality (WGI)IND.GOV.policy.regulatory_qualityGOVPolicy and institutional qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WGI GOV_WGI_RQ.SC WB_WGI GOV_WGI_RQ.EST
CPIA overall rating (IDA resource allocation index)IND.GOV.policy.cpia_overallGOVPolicy and institutional qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WDI IQ.CPA.IRAI.XQ
CPIA public-sector management and institutionsIND.GOV.policy.cpia_public_sector_managementGOVPolicy and institutional qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WDI IQ.CPA.PUBS.XQ
CPIA transparency, accountability and corruption in the public sectorIND.GOV.policy.cpia_transparencyGOVPolicy and institutional qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WDI IQ.CPA.TRAN.XQ
Efficiency of revenue mobilisation (CPIA)IND.GOV.policy.tax_administrationGOVPolicy and institutional qualitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WDI IQ.CPA.REVN.XQ
Deviation of budget execution from the approved budgetIND.GOV.policy.budget_execution_deviationGOVPolicy and institutional qualityvulnerability%COUNTRYSDG 16.6.1
Statistical Performance Indicators overall scoreIND.GOV.statistics.spi_overallGOVStatistical capacitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYWB_WDI IQ.SPI.OVRL WB_WDI IQ.SCI.OVRL
Completeness of birth registrationIND.GOV.statistics.birth_registrationGOVStatistical capacitycoping capacity%COUNTRYWB_WDI SP.REG.BRTH.ZS SDG 16.9.1
Years since the last population censusIND.GOV.statistics.years_since_censusGOVStatistical capacityvulnerabilityaCOUNTRYSDG 17.19.2
Business environment score (B-READY)IND.GOV.business.bready_overallGOVBusiness environmentcoping capacity{score}COUNTRY
Population relying primarily on clean cooking fuels and technologiesIND.ENE.access.clean_cookingENEAccessvulnerability%COUNTRY, ADM1SDG 7.1.2 WB_WDI EG.CFT.ACCS.ZS
Critical-mineral import supplier concentrationIND.ENE.minerals.critical_mineral_import_concentrationENECritical mineralsvulnerability1COUNTRY
Individuals using the InternetIND.INF.digital.internet_usersINFDigital connectivitycoping capacity%COUNTRY, ADM1, CITYSDG 17.8.1 WB_WDI IT.NET.USER.ZS
International connectivity route redundancyIND.INF.digital.international_connectivity_redundancyINFDigital connectivitycoping capacity1COUNTRY
Hours of national-scale internet disruptionIND.INF.digital.internet_disruption_hoursINFDigital connectivityimpacth/aCOUNTRY
Critical facilities with 72-hour back-up powerIND.INF.utilities.critical_facility_backup_powerINFUtilitiescoping capacity%COUNTRY, ADM1, CITYISO_37123 ISO 37123:2019
Lifeline facilities in high-hazard zones, shareIND.INF.utilities.lifeline_facilities_exposed.shareINFUtilitiesexposure%COUNTRY, ADM1, ADM2, CITY, GRID
Health facilities damaged or destroyed by disastersIND.INF.disruption.health_facilities_damagedINFService disruptionimpact1COUNTRY, ADM1SENDAI D-2
ITU Global Cybersecurity Index scoreIND.CYB.capability.gci_scoreCYBCyber capabilitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYITU_GCI Overall score
ITU Global Cybersecurity Index tierIND.CYB.capability.gci_tierCYBCyber capabilityvulnerability{class}COUNTRYITU_GCI Tier
ITU GCI legal measures pillarIND.CYB.capability.gci_legalCYBCyber capabilitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYITU_GCI Legal Measures
ITU GCI technical measures pillarIND.CYB.capability.gci_technicalCYBCyber capabilitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYITU_GCI Technical Measures
ITU GCI organizational measures pillarIND.CYB.capability.gci_organizationalCYBCyber capabilitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYITU_GCI Organizational Measures
ITU GCI capacity development measures pillarIND.CYB.capability.gci_capacity_developmentCYBCyber capabilityadaptive capacity{score}COUNTRYITU_GCI Capacity Development Measures
ITU GCI cooperation measures pillarIND.CYB.capability.gci_cooperationCYBCyber capabilitycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYITU_GCI Cooperation Measures
National computer incident response team in operationIND.CYB.capability.national_certCYBCyber capabilitycoping capacity{bool}COUNTRYITU_GCI Technical Measures
Data protection and privacy legislation in forceIND.CYB.capability.data_protection_lawCYBCyber capabilitycoping capacity{bool}COUNTRYITU_GCI Legal Measures
Significant cyber incidents per million populationIND.CYB.incidents.significant_incident_rateCYBIncidentshazard/10*6/aCOUNTRY
Cyber incidents disrupting critical servicesIND.CYB.incidents.critical_sector_incidentsCYBIncidentsimpact1COUNTRY
ICT services value added, share of GDPIND.CYB.dependence.ict_services_share.gdpCYBDigital dependenceexposure%COUNTRYWB_WDI BX.GSR.CCIS.ZS
E-government developmentIND.CYB.dependence.egovernment_developmentCYBDigital dependenceexposure{score}COUNTRY
Gross domestic expenditure on R&D, share of GDPIND.TEC.capability.rd_expenditure.gdpTECTechnology capabilityadaptive capacity%COUNTRYSDG 9.5.1 WB_WDI GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS
Researchers per million inhabitantsIND.TEC.capability.researchers_per_millionTECTechnology capabilityadaptive capacity/10*6COUNTRYSDG 9.5.2 WB_WDI SP.POP.SCIE.RD.P6
High-technology exports, share of manufactured exportsIND.TEC.capability.high_tech_exportsTECTechnology capabilityadaptive capacity%COUNTRYWB_WDI TX.VAL.TECH.MF.ZS SDG 9.b.1
Semiconductor import supplier concentrationIND.TEC.concentration.semiconductor_import_concentrationTECConcentration and dependencevulnerability1COUNTRY
Cloud infrastructure provider concentrationIND.TEC.concentration.cloud_provider_concentrationTECConcentration and dependencevulnerability1COUNTRY
AI compute capacity under foreign or single-provider controlIND.TEC.ai.ai_compute_foreign_controlTECArtificial intelligencevulnerability%COUNTRY
Foundation-model provider concentrationIND.TEC.ai.foundation_model_concentrationTECArtificial intelligencevulnerability%COUNTRY
Biosafety and biosecurity oversight of high-containment laboratoriesIND.TEC.bio.biosecurity_lab_oversightTECBiotechnologycoping capacity{score}COUNTRY
National DRR strategy aligned with the Sendai FrameworkIND.CRS.drr.national_drr_strategyCRSDRR strategycoping capacity{score}COUNTRYSENDAI E-1 SDG 1.5.3 SDG 11.b.1 SDG 13.1.2
Local governments with DRR strategies aligned to the national strategyIND.CRS.drr.local_drr_strategiesCRSDRR strategycoping capacity%COUNTRY, ADM1SENDAI E-2 SDG 1.5.4 SDG 11.b.2 SDG 13.1.3
Population within 15 minutes of emergency servicesIND.CRS.response.emergency_service_accessCRSResponse capacitycoping capacity%COUNTRY, ADM1, CITYISO_37120 ISO 37120:2018
05Hazards

Hazard families this series reads

families, each crosswalked to the UNDRR–ISC Hazard Information Profiles (2025) where a profile exists.

FIG 4 · Hazard families this series reads
FrontierSystemic156HAZARDS
2 hazard domains (inner ring) and 20 families (outer ring), sized by hazard count. Select a segment to filter the table below.
FamilyDomainHazardsCount
AI system failure and misalignmentFrontier and exponential technologyAI malfunction in a critical service, Out-of-distribution model failure, Correlated failure of shared AI models, Reliance on fabricated AI output, Specification gaming and reward hacking, Deceptive or strategically misaligned AI, Loss of human control over advanced AI, AI self-replication and exfiltration …11
AI security and model supply chainFrontier and exponential technologyTheft of frontier model weights, Backdoored AI model, AI model supply-chain compromise, Prompt injection against AI agents, AI-enabled cyber offence, Attack on AI compute infrastructure, Adversarial manipulation of machine learning7
AI misuse and capability upliftFrontier and exponential technologyAI uplift for biological weapons, AI uplift for chemical weapons, Synthetic media at scale, Non-consensual synthetic intimate imagery, AI-driven mass persuasion, AI-enabled mass surveillance and repression, AI-enabled seizure or entrenchment of power, Malicious use of AI8
Agentic AI acting at scaleFrontier and exponential technologyRunaway autonomous agent action, Multi-agent interaction cascade, Algorithmic market flash crash, Human deskilling and over-reliance on AI, Gradual human disempowerment by AI, Autonomous agent overreach6
Algorithmic decision and structural harmFrontier and exponential technologyHarmful automated decision-making, Clinical AI error, Rapid AI-driven labour displacement, Concentration of frontier AI capability, Competitive AI race and safety erosion, Degradation of the shared knowledge base, Recommender-system amplification harm, Harm from AI companions and chatbots …12
Robotics, autonomy and autonomous weaponsFrontier and exponential technologyLethal autonomous weapon use, Drone swarm attack, Weaponised small drone attack, Drone intrusion into protected airspace, AI-accelerated military escalation, AI in nuclear command, control and warning, Industrial and service robot injury, Autonomous vehicle system failure …10
Biotechnology and synthetic biologyFrontier and exponential technologyEngineered pandemic pathogen, Dual-use research of concern, Benchtop DNA synthesis misuse, Biological design tool misuse, Automated biofoundry accident, Gene drive escape, Engineered organism escape into the environment, Mirror-image organism creation or release …10
Nanotechnology and advanced materialsFrontier and exponential technologyEngineered nanomaterial exposure, High-aspect-ratio nanofibre inhalation, Nanomaterial accumulation in the environment, Uncontrolled self-replicating nanomachines, Molecular manufacturing arms race5
Neurotechnology, human enhancement and extended realityFrontier and exponential technologyBrain-computer interface failure, Neural device compromise, Neural data exploitation, Cognitive enhancement harm and coercion, Heritable human genome editing harm, Extended-reality physical and psychological harm, Manipulation of augmented perception7
Quantum technology and cryptographic transitionFrontier and exponential technologyCryptographically relevant quantum computer, Harvest-now, decrypt-later collection, Post-quantum migration failure, Quantum sensing erosion of strategic concealment4
Climate intervention technologiesFrontier and exponential technologySolar geoengineering termination shock, Stratospheric aerosol injection side effects, Marine cloud brightening side effects, Unilateral or rogue geoengineering deployment, Ocean fertilisation side effects, Ocean alkalinity enhancement side effects, Large-scale carbon removal land and water competition, Geological carbon storage leakage …11
Space technology and orbital infrastructureFrontier and exponential technologyDestructive anti-satellite strike, Non-kinetic counterspace attack, Mega-constellation orbital congestion, Constellation-wide service failure, Upper-atmosphere pollution from launches and re-entries, Satellite interference with sky observation, Back-contamination from extraterrestrial samples7
Digital infrastructure concentration and monocultureFrontier and exponential technologyCritical open-source dependency failure, Advanced semiconductor fabrication concentration, Digital identity and trust service failure3
Advanced and distributed manufacturingFrontier and exponential technology3D-printed and untraceable firearms, Distributed production of weapon components, Additively manufactured critical part failure3
Energy-transition technology failuresFrontier and exponential technologyLithium battery fire in vehicles and transport, Mass manipulation of connected energy devices, Advanced reactor material security risk, Critical mineral supply concentration4
Distributed ledgers and digital assetsFrontier and exponential technologySmart-contract and oracle exploit1
Supply-chain and flow disruptionSystemic and compound eventsSupply-chain disruption, Chokepoint blockage, Port or hub closure, Fuel and energy supply shock, Food supply-chain breakdown, Trade restriction or embargo, Single-source supplier failure, Cold-chain failure …17
Cascading failureSystemic and compound eventsInterdependent infrastructure cascade, Blackout-driven service cascade, Water-energy-food cascade, Financial contagion, Health-system overload, Emergency-response overload, Digital dependency cascade, Lifeline restoration deadlock …10
Compound and multi-hazard eventsSystemic and compound eventsCompound flooding, Concurrent heat and drought, Simultaneous multi-region crop failure, Cold-wave energy crunch, Heat-driven grid stress, Natech event, Successive hazards, Disaster during an epidemic …9
Structural fragility of interconnected systemsSystemic and compound eventsCritical single point of failure, Critical service provider concentration, Common-mode failure, Technology monoculture, Lean inventory fragility, Geographic clustering of critical production, Unmapped critical dependency, Tightly coupled automated systems …11
06Methods

Method libraries

Each method has a reference implementation or declares the specialist model, data or adapter it still needs; none is promoted beyond its evidence.

56 methods

Cyber, AI and frontier technology

Cyber Attack Surface · Exploitability · Threat Likelihood · Cyber Asset Criticality · Intrusion Propagation · Ransomware Risk · Identity Compromise …

21 methods

Networks, dependency and systemic risk

Dependency Graph · Centrality · Critical Node · Cascading Failure · Contagion · Percolation · Interdependency …

07Users

Who uses it

Governments and national risk agencies

Prioritise prevention and preparedness; Plan with subnational layers; Track Sendai targets; Co-develop a national index

Universities and research

Replicate every value; Study methods; Contribute data and review

UN system and humanitarian organisations

Compare needs across contexts with intervals; Watch weekly signals for review; Read outlooks for anticipatory planning

Insurers, reinsurers and risk pools

Read hazard, exposure and protection-gap context; Run scenario and tail analytics; Study parametric index design questions

08Reports

Nexus Reports

Edition code
XT-20
Edition status
planned
Subject
Set by Nexus Reports at commissioning
Nexus Reports
09Cite

Cite and reuse

GCRI Canada (2026). The Global Risks Index (NXS-GRX): Converging technologies series (GRX-SER-XT-20), Baseline Edition 2026. Preparatory working draft. https://risksindex.com/series/xt-20/ UNI NXS-GRX-AR-000107.
Series key
grix:SER.XT-20:{ISO3}:{YEAR}:A
Domain keys
nis:IDX.HLT.security.health_security_risk:{ISO3}:{YEAR}:A nis:IDX.GOV.quality.governance_weakness:{ISO3}:{YEAR}:A nis:IDX.CYB.capability.cyber_risk:{ISO3}:{YEAR}:A

Every country reads this series

Each country profile carries the domain indices this series is built from.