The World Economic Forum (WEF) has unveiled a blueprint detailing how AI can foster inclusivity in global economic growth and societal development. It also underscores the challenges in ensuring equitable distribution of AI’s benefits across nations and populations.
Developed with KPMG, the blueprint outlines nine strategic objectives to guide government leaders, organizations, and stakeholders at every stage of the AI lifecycle. These strategies focus on closing gaps in access, infrastructure, advanced computing, and skill development, supporting sustainable, long-term growth.
Cathy Li, Head of AI, Data, and the Metaverse at WEF, said: “Leveraging AI for economic growth and societal progress is a shared goal, yet countries and regions have very different starting points.
“This blueprint serves as a compass, guiding decision-makers toward impact-oriented collaboration and practical solutions that can unlock AI’s full potential.”
The report suggests that nations can tailor AI approaches to fit geographic and cultural contexts. By doing so, they can tackle local challenges while establishing a foundation for innovation, investment, and ethical governance. Case studies from countries at various stages of AI development illustrate scalable, practical solutions.
The report highlights examples of cross-border cooperation, such as shared AI frameworks and pooled resources like energy or centralized databanks, to address resource limitations. Public-private subsidies can make AI-ready devices more affordable, lowering barriers for local businesses and innovators to adopt AI tools and expand operations.
While the blueprint features nine strategic objectives, three have been singled out as priority focus areas for national AI strategies:
- Building sustainable AI infrastructure
Resilient, scalable, and environmentally sustainable AI infrastructure is essential for innovation. However, achieving this vision will require substantial investment, energy, and cross-sector collaboration. Nations must coordinate efforts to ensure that intelligent economies grow in both an equitable and eco-friendly manner.
- Curating diverse and high-quality datasets
AI’s potential hinges on the quality of the data it can access. This strategic objective addresses barriers such as data accessibility, imbalance, and ownership. By ensuring that datasets are inclusive, diverse, and reflective of local languages and cultures, developers can create equitable AI models that avoid bias and meet the needs of all communities.
- Establishing robust ethical and safety guardrails
Governance frameworks are critical for reducing risks like misuse, bias, and ethical breaches. By setting high standards at the outset, nations can cultivate trust in AI systems, laying the groundwork for responsible deployment and innovation. These safeguards are especially vital for promoting human-centred AI that benefits all of society.
The overall framework outlined in the report has three layers:
- Foundation layer: Focuses on sustainable energy, diverse data curation, responsible AI infrastructure, and efficient investment mechanisms.
- Growth layer: Embeds AI into workflows, processes, and devices to accelerate sectoral adoption and boost innovation.
- People layer: Prioritises workforce skills, empowerment, and ethical considerations, ensuring that AI shapes society in a beneficial and inclusive way.