Artificial Intelligence: A Catalyst for Jobs and Growth in Emerging Economies

As the world embraces the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI), we face an unprecedented opportunity—and responsibility—to harness its potential for good. Emerging economies, in particular, hold the promise of leveraging AI not just for economic growth but for creating a more inclusive and equitable future.

But amidst this wave of innovation, we must pause to ask: Can AI genuinely drive sustainable job creation and inclusive economic growth, particularly in emerging markets? How do we manage unrealistic expectations and separate hype from reality?

These questions will be at the heart of my keynote at the upcoming OECD Global Partnership on AI Summit. However, I wanted to share my reflections ahead of the summit—not just with those who will attend, but with my broader LinkedIn community of sustainable development professionals, educators, innovators, and changemakers.

Let’s explore three dimensions that I believe are pivotal for understanding how AI can serve as a catalyst for job creation, enhance productivity, open new opportunities, and drive economic growth:

1. Corporate and Investor Strategies: Driving Sustainable AI Transformation

Organizations are struggling to navigate the emerging, AI-shaped ecosystem, balancing stakeholder pressures with limited understanding of AI’s disruptive and transformative potential. Incorporating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into corporate strategy often feels daunting, particularly in the context of AI's complexity.

Still, AI’s potential to revolutionize industries is unmatched. From manufacturing to finance, it is automating repetitive tasks, optimizing processes, and opening up entirely new sectors. For example, AI-powered automation is not only improving efficiency, thus enhancing productivity, in factories but also creating demand for roles such as robotics engineers and data scientists. In finance, AI innovations in fraud detection and algorithm design are providing new career pathways.

Yet, as businesses adopt AI, the focus must go beyond maximizing short-term profit margins. AI should be viewed as a tool for human augmentation, not just automation. Initiatives like Amazon’s "Upskilling 2025," which prepares employees for AI-enabled roles, illustrate how corporations can invest in their workforce to build a more equitable future. This also means moving beyond traditional upskilling programs to comprehensive reskilling strategies that prepare employees for fundamentally new roles in an AI-driven world.

Investors, too, wield significant influence. By supporting ventures that focus on new market development and combine balanced short- and long-term profit with societal impact, they can foster AI adoption in underserved regions. This can be further reinforced by avoiding overreliance on off-the-shelf AI models and tailoring AI solutions to local contexts. For instance, investments in agri-tech startups in India are transforming rural economies, improving livelihoods, and creating new opportunities for millions of farmers.

2. Building Robust AI Ecosystems

No single entity—corporation, government, or academic institution—can unlock the full potential of AI alone. The broader AI ecosystem—spanning governments, UN agencies, development banks, multinational corporations, academia, startups, and global partnerships—plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth. Developing shared understanding across stakeholder groups and making sense of the complexity of AI-driven ecosystems remains a real challenge.

Take Rwanda as an example. Despite limited resources, the country has leveraged AI to address challenges in healthcare and agriculture, creating jobs and enhancing productivity. These achievements stem from strategic investments in digital infrastructure and partnerships with global technology firms.

To replicate such successes, we need inclusive policies that enable emerging markets to rise up the global value chain. Governments must foster innovation through enabling regulations, while academia must equip students with both technical expertise and ethical foresight. Equally important is ensuring that AI technologies and opportunities are accessible to all regions, not just the most developed.

3. Empowering Individuals and Organizations in Emerging Economies

Emerging economies face significant hurdles—volatile markets, underdeveloped institutions, weak rule of law, systemic corruption, and limited resources, including access to finance and human capital. However, they also have opportunities to leapfrog traditional barriers using AI.

At the core of this transformation lies the empowerment of individuals. This requires fostering democratized decision-making and a deeper understanding of the emotions and thoughts that drive human behavior. For example, a young entrepreneur in Nigeria can use AI tools to develop a fintech solution tailored to local needs, creating jobs and economic value. However, this requires self-directed learning and skill development, especially in regions where institutional support may be limited. Platforms like Coursera and community-driven initiatives can bridge this gap, fostering reskilling and innovation from the ground up.

Organizations in emerging economies also have a pivotal role. Companies must treat employees as partners in AI-driven transformation, offering training and fostering a culture of collaboration. Considering the transformative power of AI, organizations need to redefine their core issues, including culture, and continuously rediscover and engage with what really matters. This not only drives economic growth but also builds resilience against systemic challenges, including corruption.

Governments, meanwhile, must prioritize investments in infrastructure, STEM education, and AI governance while addressing systemic issues such as corruption. Technologies like blockchain can enhance transparency, ensuring that resources are distributed equitably. Successful and impactful implementation requires a broader understanding of governance—beyond the boardroom and into the broader societal structures that underpin economic resilience.

A Human-Centered Vision for AI

The unpredictability of the AI-driven ecosystem demands flexibility and new ways of thinking. While AI offers tremendous opportunities for economic growth, its implementation must be guided by a human-centered holistic approach. This means recognizing that economic metrics like GDP are not the sole indicators of progress. True growth uplifts individuals, strengthens communities, and upholds human dignity.

Emerging economies, with their untapped potential and resilience, are uniquely positioned to lead the way and build momentum for adaptation. By embracing inclusive and sustainable AI-driven strategies and building a unified understanding of the AI ecosystem across nations, emerging economies can redefine what a just and equitable AI future looks like—not just for themselves, but for the world.

As we embark on this journey, I urge you to share your perspectives and insights. Together, we can shape an AI-powered future that prioritizes humanity, inclusivity, and shared prosperity. I look forward to incorporating your thoughts into my discussions at the OECD Global Partnership on AI Summit, where these ideas will take center stage.

Your Thoughts Matter

What are your thoughts on this vision for AI in job creation, enhanced productivity, economic growth, and shared prosperity? I’d love to hear your perspectives and insights as we continue this important conversation. I’ll be happy to share your thoughts with the summit’s participants and integrate them into the dialogue.

In developing these ideas, I've drawn inspiration from conversations, collaborations with professionals, and tools that explore AI's potential for good.