Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- The World Bank says AI could improve healthcare, education, financial services and small businesses in developing countries.
- Poor internet, weak digital skills and bad planning could leave poorer countries further behind richer nations.
Artificial intelligence could become one of the world’s biggest sources of economic growth, the World Bank says.
But poorer countries must improve internet access, digital skills and government systems before they can fully benefit.
The warning comes from the World Bank’s World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence.
The report says AI is already changing businesses, jobs and public services around the world.
It could help poorer countries improve healthcare and education, make financial services easier to access and help small businesses work better.
But these gains will not happen automatically.
Countries with weak internet networks, limited computer power and too few skilled workers could fall further behind richer nations.
The World Bank says poorer countries should use AI to solve their own problems instead of trying to copy rich countries.
It warned them against spending large amounts of money on costly projects such as making their own computer chips.
Instead, countries should connect more people to the internet, teach digital skills and make sure AI is used safely and fairly.
Governments should also choose tools that can improve the daily lives of their people.
The World Bank says developing countries have more to gain than fear from AI.
But they must prepare now or risk missing one of the world’s biggest economic opportunities.
Pictured above: A robot hand.
Image source: File
