Weekly links May 1: AI impacts when knowledge workers are scarce, using Bayesian stats for policy, should you be an entrepreneur instead of an aid worker, and more? David McKenzie May 01, 2026 This page in: English © 2026 World Bank Group,

https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/impactevaluations/weekly-links-may-1--ai-impacts-when-knowledge-workers-are-scarce Dan Björkegren offers some thoughts on how frontier AI models that aim to make some forms of intelligence more abundant may have different impacts in low-income countries where knowledge workers are currently scarce. “Current AI tools require substantial human guidance. So, firms in rich economies are pursuing a grafting strategy: existing knowledge workers are being asked to integrate AI into their roles…In wealthy countries, advocates concerned about jobs suggest that AI systems be designed to augment rather than automate (Acemoglu, Autor, Johnson 2026). But in low-income countries, the more urgent question may be how to provide knowledge services when few knowledge workers are available. Fully automating knowledge work could in fact augment less educated workers, who could ask AI to complete macro tasks like developing marketing strategies, rather than micro tasks like reformatting spreadsheets. However, even automated systems will likely require oversight from entrepreneurs and scientists with deep expertise, which may be sufficiently available only in wealthier countries like Brazil and India.” © 2026 World Bank Group,