Artificial intelligence should be viewed not as a threat to jobs, but as a tool for creating them, particularly in developing economies where the right technology can accelerate progress that might otherwise take decades. That was the view of experts speaking at the 2026 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group in Bangkok.

As the world accelerates toward an AI-driven future amid mounting economic uncertainty, artificial intelligence is emerging as both a powerful engine of productivity and a source of disruption. Finance officials from around the world are gathering in Bangkok this week to discuss how to ensure that the benefits of this technological transformation are widely shared and accessible to all.

According to World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, the key is to make AI practical, affordable, and accessible.

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He said so-called small AI could allow developing countries to boost productivity and expand economic opportunities, even when advanced large language models remain out of reach.

"Small AI, designed for specific purposes and accessible on devices like smartphones, enables local data processing, supports local languages, and meets regional needs — making it particularly valuable for developing countries," Banga said.

The World Bank Group estimates that 2.2 billion people worldwide remain offline, while many more lack access to affordable devices, data, or digital skills.

The digital divide is clear in AI adoption, with the group noting that less than 1 percent of ChatGPT usage comes from low-income countries.

For developing economies, Banga said the greater risk may not be job losses caused by AI, but the failure to create new jobs and stimulate growth because adoption is too slow.

He added that policymakers should prioritize data collection and labor-market research to understand AI's effects on employment across economies, particularly in low-income countries, where the impact is only beginning to emerge but could be transformative.

However, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that AI is reducing demand for routine and repetitive work, putting young people entering the labor market at particular risk. Such jobs have traditionally provided graduates an entry point to gain experience and advance their careers.

She urged governments to rethink education systems and place greater emphasis on lifelong learning, as skills acquired today could quickly become obsolete in an AI-driven economy.

"Fiscal policy must evolve to address new economic realities — governments need sustainable revenue models that account for reduced labor participation and rising capital concentration," she added.

Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam called on governments to move beyond short-term crisis responses and adopt structural policies that incentivize businesses to hire fresh graduates.

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He said the aim should be to preserve viable pathways into employment and prevent prolonged joblessness from eroding workers' skills and confidence in their future prospects.

With future workforce needs increasingly uncertain, education systems should avoid rigidly prioritizing either specialized knowledge or broad-based learning. Instead, they should cultivate agility, adaptability, and the capacity to learn continuously across disciplines and occupations, he said.

As host of this year's meetings, Thailand has identified three priorities for AI: improving existing jobs, developing new capabilities to create new types of work, and ensuring that the benefits of AI reach everyone as the technology becomes integrated into daily life, said Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Ekniti Nitithanprapas.

Contact the writers at yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn