AI could help developing countries gain a century in ten years, according to the World Bank.

AI is often presented as a way to quickly improve access to education, healthcare, or agricultural services. It could, in particular, facilitate the dissemination of educational content, support medical diagnosis, improve crop management, and enhance the efficiency of administrations.

But developing countries are approaching this transformation with still fragile technological foundations. In Sub-Saharan Africa, one-third of rural schools lack a stable electricity supply. More than two-thirds do not have access to reliable internet connectivity, according to data cited by the World Bank.

Electricity and Internet: Prerequisites

Under these conditions, the deployment of artificial intelligence solutions cannot rely solely on the availability of software or models. Their use requires reliable electrical networks, suitable equipment, accessible internet connectivity, and skills capable of designing, using, and controlling these tools.

The World Bank warns against an approach that would present AI as a quick fix to development challenges. Without investments in infrastructure and training, the benefits of this technology could remain concentrated in already well-equipped areas, exacerbating disparities between regions.

The issue also concerns data quality and the adaptation of tools to local realities. Systems designed from data that are not representative of African populations or rural economies could produce less relevant results in healthcare, education, or agriculture.

For developing countries, artificial intelligence thus represents both an opportunity for acceleration and a challenge for equipping themselves. The speed of gains will depend on their ability to strengthen digital infrastructures, widen access to electricity, and train users, all while establishing rules governing the use of these technologies.