The World Bank Group is prioritising job creation and productivity, with small-scale Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications expected to expand economic opportunities in developing countries.
The World Bank President, Ajay Banga, said this during a discussion titled “Small AI: More and Better Jobs” at the 2026 International Monetary Fund/World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday.
Banga said about 1.2 billion young people would turn 18 within the next 15 years, stressing the need for investments in healthcare, education, electricity, clean water and skills development to prepare them for productive employment.
He identified infrastructure, agriculture, primary healthcare, tourism and value-added manufacturing as five critical sectors capable of generating sustainable jobs in emerging economies.
According to him, the private sector generates between 75 and 85 per cent of jobs in any country, making policies that encourage businesses to invest and expand essential.
Banga said small-scale AI tools could improve productivity in agriculture, education and healthcare, particularly in communities with limited access to specialised services.
He cited an example in Indonesia where nurses at primary healthcare centres could use AI tools on mobile phones to assess patients’ symptoms and consult remote doctors.
In agriculture, he highlighted technologies that help smallholder farmers access improved seeds, fertilisers, crop insurance, credit and better market prices. Farmers could also use basic mobile phones to identify crop diseases and receive recommendations.
Banga said that while advanced AI could disrupt some jobs in developed economies, practical, small-scale applications offered opportunities to improve productivity and expand employment in middle- and lower-middle-income countries.
He said his priority was to promote the deployment of such applications across emerging markets.
