Chapter 5. AI’s Social Impact: Improving Public Service Delivery - World Development Report 2026 THE PROMISE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Chapter 5. AI’s Social Impact: Improving Public Service Delivery AI is already transforming the delivery of public services at the back end of public administration, such as weather forecasting and tax enforcement, largely through the adaptation of machine learning algorithms to local contexts. Adapting and adopting AI can also help overcome critical shortages of skilled personnel, such as teachers and health care workers, at the citizen-facing front end of public service delivery. The lack of evidence for selecting, procuring, and evaluating AI applications, especially at the front end, limits AI’s full potential to improve the delivery of public services. The lack of complements, such as digital connectivity and skills, also constrains AI adoption at the front end of public service delivery. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/63b485a2-3885-4ea0-b913-88813abf51a1/content DOWNLOAD CHAPTER 5DOWNLOAD SPOTLIGHT 3 https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/98d900f5-5cfe-47e6-a93b-64774cc494b2/content