The World Bank Group’s first Digital Strategy aims to bridge the digital divide in developing countries through affordable internet access, digital public infrastructure, digital skills + AI adoption, and shared computing infrastructure to promote inclusive growth and employment.
NEWS: World Bank Group launched its first-ever Digital Strategy at the Global AI and Digital Summit in Seoul, South Korea, to expand internet access, digital jobs + AI adoption in developing countries.
KEY FEATURES
- Affordable Connectivity: Expands broadband + reduces internet access costs.
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): Promotes digital identity + payments + secure data sharing.
- Digital Skills: Improves digital literacy + employability + entrepreneurship.
- Small AI for Local Development: Affordable AI for agriculture + healthcare + inventory management.
- AI Infrastructure: Shared, pay-as-you-go GPU computing, initially targeting Africa + Latin America.
SIGNIFICANCE
- Digital Divide: Over 2 billion people remained offline in 2025; internet use was 23% in low-income countries vs 94% in high-income countries.
- Employment: 1.2 billion young people expected to enter working age over 10–15 years, against 420 million projected jobs in developing economies.
- Inclusive Growth: Enhances productivity + public service delivery + economic inclusion.