World Development Report 2026: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence

In a time when development progress has dipped to its weakest pace in 75 years, artificial intelligence (AI) offers developing economies a rare path to greater prosperity. World Development Report 2026 provides the first comprehensive assessment of what AI means for these economies — how firms and governments are already using it, what is holding them back, where the largest gains may lie, and how the risks can be managed.