How to Ensure AI Serves the Public Good

That technology exists today. The question is whether these opportunities will be widely available to many, or only a few. 

At the World Bank Group, this question is shaping our approach to AI. Our focus is on helping countries use AI to improve lives, strengthen public services, increase productivity, and create jobs.

That begins with investing in the foundations of digital opportunity: reliable electricity, affordable connectivity, stronger digital skills, modern regulatory frameworks, and the infrastructure needed for innovation to flourish.

It also means supporting practical AI solutions that address real development challenges.

We often describe this as “small AI” solutions designed to work within local realities, using local data, local languages, and everyday devices with existing infrastructure. 

These tools can support frontline health workers, assist teachers in classrooms, and provide small businesses with market information and access to credit that helps them grow. The solutions we are pursuing are replicable, scalable, and can compress decades of development into days—and even minutes.