Mapping the Potentials and Limitations of Using Generative AI Technologies to Address Socio-Economic Challenges in LMICs
How Can GenAI Advance Development Goals in LMICs Responsibly?
As the capabilities and accessibility of Generative AI (GenAI) expand globally, so too has the development of applications using these technologies. While much of the focus has been on economic productivity, a smaller group of innovators, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), have begun harnessing GenAI to address socioeconomic challenges.
Drawing from the experiences of LMIC-based innovators and 36 real-world use cases across sectors like health, education, agriculture, financial inclusion, and women’s empowerment, this article explores the promise—and pitfalls—of GenAI for development. The findings are clear: GenAI holds significant potential to accelerate progress on developmental goals, but there are equally serious risks and systemic barriers that must be addressed.
Ensuring equitable, inclusive, and just AI development in LMICs will require:
- Building a stronger evidence base grounded in the experiences of innovators in the Global South,
- Creating well-funded, enabling environments for local and responsible AI innovation, and
- Establishing rights-based safeguards to protect individuals and communities from harm.
This article was co-authored by Urvashi and Aarushi as part of our project, AI Ethics in the Global South: Capacity-strengthening and Learning, which supports grantees of the Gates Foundation’s Global Grand Challenges in advancing responsible GenAI.
Read the full article to explore key insights, real-world use cases, and what it will take to make GenAI work responsibly.