World Bank reports AI could accelerate growth in developing nations

The World Bank's "World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence" suggests that AI could allow developing nations to achieve a decade's worth of progress in a single decade. While high-income economies face a 14.2% risk of job automation, developing economies may see a 16.2% increase in productivity through AI, primarily by augmenting rather than replacing human capabilities.

Indermit Gill, Chief Economist of the World Bank Group, noted that smaller, localized AI tools could improve access to healthcare, education, and agriculture in lower-income regions. However, realizing these gains requires urgent investment in energy, digital infrastructure, and efficient institutions.

In a different perspective on social impact, Dana Suskind of the University of Chicago argues that AI accessibility may create a new socioeconomic divide. Drawing parallels to the disparity between organic and ultra-processed foods, Suskind suggests that a childhood free from chatbot interaction may become a hallmark of the elite, as lower-income students currently rely more heavily on AI for educational assistance.