World Bank says ‘small AI’ could transform developing countries

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Bank’s chief knowledge officer says the tech could speed up economic development from centuries to decades…

The World Bank is urging developing countries to kickstart the creation of “small AI” models, which can run on a mobile phone with low connectivity, to reap the full benefits of artificial intelligence.

While Silicon Valley big tech firms are focused on ever more sophisticated consumer products, Paschal Donohoe, the World Bank’s chief knowledge officer, said AI could also accelerate development for emerging economies – but only if it was adapted to local needs.

Small AI uses specialised models that are trained using narrower datasets for a specific purpose.

“We argue that economic development in the countries that we serve and partner with that could have taken centuries to make happen, the potential is there for that economic development now to happen within decades,” Donohoe said.

“Small AI would be available in a local setting, with low connectivity, and in the local language of the community – and tends to be available on your mobile phone.”