World Bank Releases First Digital and AI Strategy Targeting Emerging Markets

The World Bank Group has officially released its first comprehensive Digital and AI Strategy alongside an accompanying implementation plan titled "@A Billion", according to an announcement at the Global AI and Digital Summit in Seoul. The blueprint establishes an institutional framework to extend digital opportunities to one billion people across developing nations by 2030, targeting 600 million people with broadband connectivity and 400 million with digitally enabled public and financial services.

According to the document, the strategy prioritises low-resource settings to address an urgent employment shortfall. World Bank estimates indicate that 1.2 billion young people in developing countries will enter working age over the next 15 years, while those economies are projected to generate only 420 million jobs. The framework outlines four priorities: expanding reliable connectivity, making devices and data more affordable, strengthening digital services and skills, and building readiness for artificial intelligence.

The strategy emphasises practical "small AI" applications, tools adapted to specific tasks and local conditions such as helping farmers identify crop disease or supporting health workers, according to the World Bank. Alongside it, the lender announced an AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative to give emerging-market governments access to shared, pay-as-you-go GPU computing, with an initial focus on Africa and Latin America.

What it means

For emerging economies, the strategy shifts international policy away from expensive frontier models towards practical, localised computing tools. However, bridging infrastructure and handset affordability hurdles will ultimately determine whether these systems generate widespread employment or deepen existing technological dependencies.