World Bank says ‘small AI’ could transform developing countries

‘Small AI’ models can run on a mobile phone with low connectivity, and could help accelerate development for emerging economies. Photograph: Zuma Press/Alamy View image in fullscreen ‘Small AI’ models can run on a mobile phone with low connectivity, and could help accelerate development for emerging economies. Photograph: Zuma Press/Alamy World Bank says ‘small AI’ could transform developing countries Bank’s chief knowledge officer says the tech could speed up economic development from centuries to decades The World Bank is urging developing countries to kickstart the creation of “small AI” models, which can run on a mobile phone with low connectivity, to reap the full benefits of artificial intelligence. While Silicon Valley big tech firms are focused on ever more sophisticated consumer products, Paschal Donohoe, the World Bank’s chief knowledge officer, said AI could also accelerate development for emerging economies – but only if it was adapted to local needs. And this is where what we describe as ‘small AI’ comes in. Because small AI is AI that would be available on your phone, that can help deliver against those information needs.” He suggested such products could emerge from collaboration between the World Bank, governments and the private sector. The impact of AI on jobs and growth is a central theme of the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which are being held this week in Bangkok, Thailand. Speaking on a panel about the impact of the technology on Monday, Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF’s managing director, called on governments to provide the preconditions for AI to succeed. She said: “You need access to electricity. You need access to digital infrastructure. People have to be geared to adoption. And the government should be able to give some safety, protect against bad actors so that adoption can work. “If we work hard to have the basics for it, [adoption] can be very democratic. As democratic as the cellphone.” The World Bank’s annual world development report, published in August, hailed the potential benefits of AI. But if they’re gone, I don’t think any young person wants to be a barista in a coffee shop as a professional future.” Under its president, Ajay Banga, the World Bank has made attracting private-sector funding into emerging economies a focus of its work. Donohoe said the World Bank had mobilised $120bn (£90bn) of private capital in the past year using guarantees and other financial instruments, at a time when many countries, including the US and the UK, were cutting their aid budgets. “We want to highlight the link between private capital mobilisation and jobs and economic development,” he said.