World Bank releases World Development Report 2026 on the promise of AI for developing economies

The World Bank’s World Development Report 2026 provides the first comprehensive assessment of artificial intelligence for developing economies. It argues that countries do not need to build frontier models to benefit and instead should focus on adopting existing tools, adapting them to local languages, institutions and constraints, and building complementary skills and infrastructure. The report highlights rapid AI diffusion, the potential of low-cost “small AI” delivered via basic phones and voice, and a framework of adopt–adapt–advance while managing concentration risks and ensuring local relevance.