SEOUL, South Korea / RankWire.AI / – On October 20, the World Bank Group revealed its inaugural digital strategy in Seoul, targeting the over 2 billion people worldwide who remain disconnected from the internet. The initiative aims to boost affordable digital access in developing nations, enhance public services, and foster employment opportunities. It leverages both the group’s public and private sector divisions. The launch coincided with the Global AI and Digital Summit, hosted jointly by South Korea’s finance and science ministries.
The new strategy is driven by four key priorities. The group will focus on expanding connectivity by improving cables, national links, and local networks for businesses and healthcare facilities. Efforts will also aim to reduce the costs of devices and data through collaborations with manufacturers, mobile operators, and lenders. A third focus area emphasizes improving digital services and skills, including digital identification and payments. The final priority prepares for artificial intelligence by ensuring adequate computing resources, accessible local data, and workforce skills.
Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank Group, highlighted that digital technology has the potential to generate jobs and enable countries to optimize limited resources. He emphasized that success hinges on dependable connectivity, affordable devices, digital literacy, and relevant services functioning in harmony. Banga noted that the first digital strategy integrates these components and also pointed out small AI, which he described as AI for the people. Examples include tools assisting farmers in identifying crop diseases or aiding health workers.
Youth Population Growth Outpaces Job Creation
Developing nations are under dual pressure from scarce resources and increasing labor demands. Approximately 1.2 billion young individuals in these economies are expected to reach working age within the next 10 to 15 years. Projections indicate that these economies will generate roughly 420 million jobs during that period. The bank suggested that digital tools could help bridge part of this gap by enabling businesses to reach more customers, improve productivity, and access financing more easily.
According to the bank, digital technology can facilitate employment growth across five priority sectors: infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, tourism, and value-added manufacturing. It can also help lower public service delivery costs. The strategy builds on the group’s earlier digitalization push and growing backing for developing economies. It combines financing, policy advice, private investments, and guarantees within a unified framework, providing a foundation for collaboration with governments, tech firms, and philanthropic organizations.
Digital Divide Persists Despite GPU Initiative Launch
Significant gaps in internet access remain between wealthy and poorer nations. By 2025, only 23% of individuals in low-income countries were expected to be online, compared to 94% in high-income countries. Many people already live within network coverage areas but cannot afford a smartphone or data plan. Others lack the necessary skills to go online or find services suited to their needs. Privacy protections, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention are integrated into the strategy’s four main priorities.
Alongside the strategy, the group introduced the AI Infrastructure and Readiness Initiative. This program will enable governments in emerging markets to access affordable computing power via shared, pay-as-you-go GPU infrastructure. GPUs, specialized processors for AI development and deployment, offer a viable alternative to establishing standalone national data centers. NVIDIA and Cassava Technologies serve as knowledge partners, with initial focus on Africa and Latin America.