Low-income countries should benefit from AI: World Bank VP

[Photo by Yonhap]

Low-income countries, including those in Africa, should be able to benefit from artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies, according to Kim Sang-bu, the new vice president for digital transformation at the World Bank.

“I am honored and pleased to have the opportunity to serve and work for the betterment of a larger portion of humanity as a World Bank vice president,” Kim said during a press conference on Tuesday at the government complex in Seoul.

Kim was appointed as the World Bank’s vice president for digital transformation on July 30th, 2024, and is set to officially start his duties on September 3rd.

The World Bank’s organizational structure includes four managing directors and 27 vice presidents. Among the five key initiatives managed at the World Bank headquarters, one is the newly formed digital transformations sector.

The newly created vice presidency for digital transformation, a position that was created in 2024, will lead policies to promote economic development through digital infrastructure such as data and digital government in developing countries. The role will also focus on collaborating with governments and private sectors to build digital infrastructure and enhance technology usage in these countries.

Kim started his career as a secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication in 1997 and has extensive experience in both public positions and private companies such as LG Uplus and Google. He was appointed to the position at the World Bank via a global competition.

“Around 2.7 billion people around the world still do not have internet access at this point in time,” Kim said. “With AI advancing rapidly, there are many challenges in ensuring that low-income countries, which lack even basic internet access, can benefit from AI.”

He emphasized that “while we cannot adopt full-spec AI solutions used in advanced countries, there must be technological development and policy support to ensure that low-income countries are not left behind and can start enjoying the benefits.”

Kim stressed that for low-income countries to benefit from AI, basic infrastructure such as data centers and devices that allow light use of AI solutions must be developed together. He cited Southeast Asia and South America as examples, stating that “AI can address challenges that have previously been difficult to overcome.” In regions frequently affected by floods, for example, AI solutions can detect these events in advance and could help reduce damage.

Kim is the first Korean to reach a high-ranking position at the World Bank.

“Korea is not only the first country to achieve rapid economic development but also a model country that achieved significant growth via digital development,” Kim said. “The expertise that Korean companies hold in building e-government systems, data centers, and developing AI will be very valuable.”