Reported by Musa Antiketu,| Journalist at Obaland magazine.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant technological concept reserved for wealthy nations, global technology companies or advanced research institutions. It is rapidly becoming a defining force in economic growth, public administration, education, healthcare, agriculture and global competitiveness.

For developing countries, the question is increasingly not whether artificial intelligence will shape their future, but whether they will build the infrastructure, skills and institutions required to benefit from it.

The World Bank has warned that developing economies must move quickly to embrace artificial intelligence or risk being left further behind in a global economy increasingly shaped by digital technologies. The warning forms part of the institution’s broader assessment of how AI could influence development, productivity and governance at a time when economic progress in many low- and middle-income countries has slowed.

According to the World Bank’s World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence, AI could enable developing countries to achieve in a decade development gains that might otherwise have taken a century. However, the institution stressed that such gains are not automatic and will depend heavily on whether governments close persistent gaps in electricity, digital connectivity, technical skills and institutional capacity.

The message carries particular significance for Africa, where rapid population growth, expanding mobile connectivity and a youthful workforce create major opportunities for technological transformation. Yet many countries across the continent continue to face unreliable electricity, limited broadband access, shortages of advanced digital skills and weak systems for regulating emerging technologies.

The World Bank’s warning therefore presents both an opportunity and a challenge: AI could help developing countries accelerate progress, but failure to prepare for the technology could deepen existing inequalities between digitally advanced economies and countries still struggling to build basic infrastructure.

AI as a Development Opportunity

The World Bank describes artificial intelligence as a potentially transformative general-purpose technology—one capable of affecting multiple sectors of the economy rather than serving only a narrow industrial purpose.

Previous technological revolutions often took decades to spread from wealthier countries to lower-income economies. The World Bank notes that the diffusion of AI is occurring much faster than earlier technologies, creating an opportunity for developing countries to adopt useful tools without waiting generations for their benefits to arrive.

Unlike earlier industrial transformations, however, AI adoption does not necessarily require every country to build expensive frontier models or compete directly with major technology powers.

The World Bank argues that developing economies do not need to invest in trillion-dollar AI systems to benefit from the technology. Instead, countries can focus on adapting existing tools to local needs, languages and development priorities.

This approach could allow governments and businesses to deploy relatively affordable AI systems in areas where shortages of skilled professionals have limited public services.

In healthcare, AI-powered tools could support medical workers by assisting with early disease detection, analysing health information and improving access to medical knowledge in underserved communities.

In education, intelligent learning platforms could provide personalised instruction, support teachers and make educational resources more accessible to students in remote areas.

In agriculture, AI could help farmers interpret weather information, identify crop diseases, improve irrigation decisions and receive more targeted agricultural advice.

Public institutions could also use AI to process large volumes of information, improve service delivery, detect irregularities and support evidence-based policymaking.

The World Bank has identified healthcare, education, agriculture, finance and public administration among the sectors where AI could generate significant benefits when deployed responsibly.

For African countries confronting shortages of doctors, teachers, agricultural extension officers and specialised public-sector professionals, AI could help expand access to knowledge and services. However, technology should complement human expertise rather than become a substitute for investment in people and public institutions.

Better Governance Could Be One of AI’s Biggest Benefits

The World Bank’s warning is not focused only on economic growth. It also highlights the potential for AI to improve governance and strengthen public institutions.

Governments collect large amounts of information through public records, tax systems, health services, schools, regulatory agencies and social programmes. Much of this information is underused because public institutions lack the capacity to analyse it efficiently.

AI could help governments identify patterns, forecast needs and improve the delivery of public services.

For example, AI systems could support the detection of fraud in public spending, improve tax administration, identify areas vulnerable to climate-related disasters and assist governments in planning infrastructure projects.

In social protection, data-driven systems could help governments identify vulnerable households and improve the targeting of assistance. In public health, AI could support disease surveillance and help authorities respond more quickly to outbreaks.

However, the use of AI in government also raises serious concerns.

Poorly designed systems can reproduce discrimination, produce inaccurate results or make decisions that are difficult for citizens to understand or challenge. Automated systems used in areas such as policing, welfare administration, immigration or public recruitment could cause harm if they rely on biased or incomplete data.

The World Bank has emphasised that effective AI governance must balance innovation with safeguards against bias, privacy violations, lack of transparency and weak accountability.

For African governments, this means that AI adoption must be accompanied by strong legal protections, independent oversight and clear standards for how public institutions use automated systems.

Technology should strengthen public accountability—not weaken it.

Africa’s Opportunity to Leapfrog

Africa has often adopted technology in ways that bypassed older systems.

The rapid expansion of mobile phones allowed millions of people to access communication services without first relying on extensive fixed-line telephone networks. Mobile money similarly expanded financial access in communities where traditional banking services were limited.

AI could create another opportunity for technological leapfrogging.

African innovators are already developing digital tools for agriculture, financial services, healthcare, education, logistics and local-language communication. AI could strengthen these systems by improving automation, analysis and personalisation.

The continent’s large youth population may also provide a significant advantage if governments invest in digital education, technical training and research.

Young Africans are increasingly using AI tools for software development, content creation, business services, education and entrepreneurship. Small and medium-sized enterprises could use AI to improve customer support, marketing, financial planning and operational efficiency.

However, the benefits will not be evenly distributed without deliberate policy action.

Countries with stronger electricity networks, reliable internet access, skilled workforces and supportive regulatory environments are likely to adopt AI faster. Countries affected by weak infrastructure and limited investment may struggle to participate fully in the emerging digital economy.

The World Bank’s central warning is therefore also a warning against complacency.

AI may reduce some barriers to development, but it could also widen global inequality if access remains concentrated in wealthier economies and technologically advanced regions.

Infrastructure Remains the Foundation

Artificial intelligence depends on infrastructure.

Reliable electricity is essential for data centres, telecommunications networks, digital services and the devices used by businesses, schools and households.

Yet electricity shortages remain a major challenge across many developing economies.

The World Bank has identified power, connectivity, skills and institutional quality as critical foundations for successful AI adoption. Without progress in these areas, countries may struggle to convert technological potential into broad development gains.

Internet access is equally important.

Although mobile connectivity has expanded rapidly across Africa, access remains uneven. Rural communities often experience slower connections, higher costs and limited access to digital devices.

Governments must therefore avoid treating AI policy as a narrow technology issue. AI readiness is closely connected to energy policy, education, telecommunications, public administration and economic planning.

Investment in broadband infrastructure, affordable internet services and reliable electricity could be as important to AI development as investment in advanced software.

Skills Will Determine Who Benefits

Technology alone does not create development.

Countries require workers who can use AI tools effectively, evaluate their outputs and understand their limitations.

This includes software engineers and data scientists, but it also includes teachers, healthcare workers, civil servants, journalists, entrepreneurs and agricultural professionals.

AI education should therefore not be limited to specialised technical training.

Schools and universities may need to strengthen digital literacy, critical thinking, data skills and ethical awareness. Workers should also have opportunities to learn how AI can support their professions.

Governments must prepare for changes in the labour market.

AI may automate some tasks while increasing demand for new skills. The effect will vary across industries and countries.

The World Bank’s assessment suggests that developing economies may have significant opportunities to use AI to improve productivity, while the risk of widespread automation may differ from that faced by advanced economies.

This does not mean that workers face no risks. Some jobs may change substantially, and certain occupations could be disrupted.

The appropriate response is not to reject technology, but to invest in education, worker protection and opportunities for people to transition into emerging sectors.

Africa Must Avoid Digital Dependence

The growth of AI also raises questions about technological sovereignty.

Many African countries depend heavily on foreign technology companies for cloud services, software platforms, digital infrastructure and AI systems.

This dependence could create economic and strategic risks if countries lack the capacity to adapt technologies to local conditions or protect national data.

However, technological sovereignty does not necessarily mean that every country must build its own frontier AI model.

The World Bank argues that developing economies can benefit by adapting available technologies to local needs rather than attempting to replicate the enormous infrastructure investments of global AI powers.

For Africa, this could mean supporting local startups, universities and research institutions while developing regional cooperation.

African countries could share computing resources, research facilities, digital infrastructure and regulatory expertise. Regional institutions may also play an important role in developing common standards and encouraging cross-border innovation.

Local-language technology should be a major priority.

AI systems trained mainly on foreign languages and datasets may perform poorly in African contexts. Investment in African languages, local knowledge and culturally relevant data could help ensure that AI systems serve communities across the continent more effectively.

Responsible AI Must Be a Core Priority

AI can improve public services, but it can also create new risks.

Automated systems may reinforce social bias. Personal information may be collected or used without adequate safeguards. AI-generated content can accelerate misinformation and make digital manipulation more difficult to detect.

Cybersecurity threats may also increase as malicious actors gain access to more advanced tools.

The World Bank has warned that responsible AI governance is essential to ensure that innovation does not undermine privacy, fairness, transparency or public trust.

Developing countries should therefore establish clear rules for data protection, algorithmic accountability and public-sector use of AI.

Governments should also encourage independent testing and evaluation of systems used in sensitive areas.

Citizens must have access to explanations and appeal mechanisms when automated systems affect important decisions about their rights or opportunities.

AI governance should not simply copy regulations developed elsewhere. Policies must reflect local legal systems, social conditions and development priorities.

A Call for Urgent but Responsible Action

The World Bank’s warning should not be interpreted as a demand for governments to adopt AI without safeguards.

The message is more complex: developing countries must act quickly, but they must also build the foundations required for responsible and inclusive adoption.

For Africa, the opportunity is significant.

AI could help expand healthcare, improve education, strengthen agriculture, support entrepreneurship and make governments more efficient.

But these outcomes will depend on political commitment and public investment.

Governments must improve electricity supply, expand broadband access, strengthen digital education and develop effective regulatory institutions.

Private companies should invest in local innovation and workforce development. Universities should expand research and technical training. Civil society and the media should monitor how AI affects rights, employment and public accountability.

The future of AI in developing countries should not be determined only by foreign technology companies or global investors.

African governments, researchers, entrepreneurs and communities must participate in shaping how the technology is developed and used.

The Road Ahead

The World Bank’s latest assessment presents artificial intelligence as a potentially powerful development tool during a period of weak global growth.

Its message is clear: countries that build the right foundations could use AI to accelerate development, improve public services and increase economic productivity.

Those that fail to invest in infrastructure, skills and institutions may struggle to compete in a rapidly changing global economy.

For Africa, AI represents neither a guaranteed solution nor an inevitable threat.

Its impact will depend on policy choices.

If governments prioritise reliable electricity, affordable connectivity, quality education, local innovation and responsible governance, AI could support a new phase of inclusive development.

If those foundations remain neglected, the technology could deepen existing inequalities and increase dependence on systems developed elsewhere.

The challenge is therefore not simply to adopt AI.

It is to ensure that artificial intelligence serves African people, strengthens public institutions and supports sustainable economic transformation.

The World Bank’s warning is ultimately a call for preparedness.

Developing countries cannot afford to ignore the AI revolution. But they must also ensure that the race to adopt new technology does not move faster than the institutions needed to govern it.

For Africa, the next decade may determine whether AI becomes a tool for shared prosperity—or another divide between those who shape the future and those forced to adapt to it.

The World Bank warns that developing countries must embrace artificial intelligence or risk falling behind. Obaland magazine examines how AI could transform governance, economic growth, healthcare, education and development across Africa.