The World Bank has issued a fresh call for developing countries to integrate artificial intelligence into their governance frameworks, warning that failure to do so risks leaving these economies further behind in the global digital divide.
The lender’s latest guidance emphasizes that AI tools can significantly improve public service delivery and administrative efficiency.
According to reports from Asharq Al-Awsat and The Punch, the institution cautioned that nations ignoring this technological shift face the prospect of being left behind as advanced economies accelerate their adoption of automated systems.
This latest intervention builds on previous World Bank advice urging emerging markets to focus on localized, practical AI applications rather than competing in the development of large-scale foundational models.
The lender has consistently argued that developing economies should prioritize narrow, high-impact use cases in sectors such as healthcare, education, and tax administration to maximize return on investment.
For investors and policymakers, the message underscores a growing consensus that AI is no longer just a corporate productivity tool but a critical component of national economic strategy.