Small AI, Big Impact How the World Bank Group is scaling practical AI for development (+...)

https://www.worldbank.org/ext/en/topic/digital-and-ai Digitalization is one of the most powerful development opportunities of our time. Connectivity, data, and digital tools are now essential to how hospitals deliver care, how farmers access markets, how teachers reach students, and how governments serve their citizens. With the right foundations—affordable internet, trusted data systems, and secure digital platforms—developing countries can unlock faster, more inclusive growth. Artificial intelligence and the broader data revolution are accelerating this shift. They are expanding what institutions can do, improving service delivery, and opening new economic pathways. Yet not everyone is benefiting equally. As of 2025, over 2 billion people - about a quarter of the world's population - remained offline, and internet use ranged from over 90% in high-income countries to just 23% in low-income countries. Meanwhile, 800 million people still lack official ID, limiting access to digital public services, finance, and healthcare.