The World Bank has urged developing countries to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), saying the technology could help improve public services and boost economic growth.

In its latest World Development Report, the global lender said AI offers developing economies an opportunity to strengthen sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture and justice without the need for expensive data centres or large-scale AI models.

World Bank Chief Economist Indermit Gill described AI as a critical opportunity for emerging economies, warning that countries that fail to embrace the technology risk falling behind in an increasingly digital world.

The report noted that many developing nations are experiencing their weakest economic growth in decades but argued that AI could help reverse the trend before the end of the decade by expanding access to essential services and improving productivity.

According to the World Bank, AI has the potential to deliver services to underserved populations in years rather than decades, making it a key tool for accelerating development.