The World Bank is urging developing economies to adopt artificial intelligence on a massive scale to emerge from their weakest growth in thirty years. Its 2026 World Development Report frames AI as a lifeline for nations facing economic stagnation and deteriorating public services. The institution is betting on « small AI, » affordable and adaptable tools deployable immediately in healthcare, education, agriculture, and public administration. Jobs in low- and middle-income countries are three times less susceptible to AI automation than those in wealthier economies, due to the prevalence of manual and informal labor. Among the risks identified are sectoral displacement in call centers and manufacturing, worsening inequality, and technological dependency on foreign platforms.
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