The World Bank Group is prioritising job creation and productivity, using AI to expand economic opportunities in developing countries.

World Bank president Ajay Banga said this during a discussion on ‘Small AI: More and Better Jobs’ at the 2026 International Monetary Fund/World Bank annual meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, on Monday.

Mr Banga stressed the need to make technology accessible and relevant to local economies.

He said about 1.2 billion young people would turn 18 within the next 15 years, allowing countries to harness their demographic potential through productive employment.

According to him, realising this potential requires investments in healthcare, education, clean water, electricity and skills development, alongside opportunities for young people to contribute meaningfully to society.

Mr Banga explained that employment should not be limited to jobs in large or small companies but should include entrepreneurship and other productive activities that promote dignity and economic inclusion.

He said the World Bank’s development approach now prioritised job creation, with infrastructure, governance reforms and policies designed to attract private investment.

“The private sector generates between 75 and 85 per cent of jobs in any country,” the president said.

Mr Banga also said that governments must create conditions that encourage businesses to invest and expand.

He identified infrastructure, agriculture, primary healthcare, tourism and value-added manufacturing as five critical sectors capable of generating sustainable employment in emerging economies.

Mr Banga said these sectors could create locally relevant jobs without relying solely on outsourcing from advanced economies.

The president said that on AI, small-scale applications could improve productivity in agriculture, education and healthcare, particularly in communities with limited access to specialised services. He cited an example of primary healthcare centres in Indonesia, where nurses could use simple AI tools on mobile phones to assess patients’ symptoms and connect with remote doctors.

Mr Banga said that such technology could help healthcare workers identify conditions, obtain medical guidance and arrange specialist appointments more efficiently.

The president also highlighted agricultural technology initiatives connecting smallholder farmers and cooperatives with improved seeds, fertilisers, crop insurance, credit and better market prices. He explained that farmers could use basic mobile phones to identify crop diseases and obtain recommendations, helping them make informed decisions and improve productivity.

According to him, these applications demonstrate how relatively simple AI tools can address practical challenges in developing countries.

Mr Banga noted that while advanced AI models could disrupt some jobs in developed economies, small-scale AI offers significant opportunities to boost productivity and create jobs in middle- and lower-middle-income countries.

He said his priority was to deploy practical small-AI applications across as many emerging markets as possible.

(NAN)