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The World Bank has urged developing countries to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to improve governance and public service delivery, warning they risk falling behind if they fail to adopt the technology.
Speaking at the launch of the World Development Report on Tuesday, the World Bank Group’s Chief Economist, Indermit Gill, said AI presents a major opportunity for developing economies despite their limited resources.
“AI has thrown developing economies a lifeline, and they should seize it,” Gill said, noting that countries do not need expensive AI models or massive data centres to benefit from the technology.
The report recommends adapting lower-cost AI tools to local needs to improve healthcare, education, agriculture, and justice, while investing in electricity, computing infrastructure, and local data systems.
According to the World Bank, developing economies are experiencing their weakest average growth in three decades, and AI could significantly boost economic performance before the end of the 2020s.
The report cited examples of AI supporting diabetes screening in Bangladesh and providing advanced weather forecasts to reduce costs for farmers in India.
However, it warned that governments must safeguard data privacy, prevent bias in AI systems and build public trust. It also cautioned that AI could widen inequality and reduce future employment opportunities if not deployed responsibly.
