Google and World Bank partner on AI services for emerging markets

Google and the World Bank have partnered to develop AI-powered public digital infrastructure in emerging markets, focusing on interoperable networks that will help citizens access government services through simple devices in over 40 languages. The collaboration combines Google Cloud’s AI technology with the World Bank’s development expertise to create Open Network Stacks for critical sectors including agriculture, healthcare, and education.

What you should know: The partnership builds on a successful pilot program that has already demonstrated real-world impact for underserved populations.

• A pro bono pilot in Uttar Pradesh, India, helped thousands of smallholder farmers increase their profitability through AI-powered agricultural services.
• The initiative will enable citizens to interact with government services using basic devices, removing technological barriers that often prevent access to public services.
• The collaboration spans multiple critical sectors, creating comprehensive digital infrastructure rather than isolated solutions.

The big picture: Google is expanding its AI-for-social-good initiatives through strategic partnerships that leverage both technology and institutional expertise.

• Google.org has contributed more than $200 million to “AI for social good initiatives” over the past five years, demonstrating sustained commitment to humanitarian applications.
• In September 2024, Google introduced AI Collaboratives, a new funding approach that brings together public, private, and nonprofit organizations to create AI-powered solutions worldwide.
• The World Bank is separately developing AI agents to extract information from research literature on development interventions, aiming to help decision-makers allocate $220 billion in annual aid and trillions in impact investing more effectively.

Who else is involved: Google has launched additional AI Collaboratives targeting urgent global challenges beyond government services.

• The AI Collaborative: Wildfires focuses on helping communities manage fires by identifying and tracking wildfires in near real time, quantifying wildfire risk, and shifting more acreage to beneficial fire.
• The AI Collaborative: Food Security plans to use AI technology, collaborative research, and data-sharing to strengthen global food system resilience and improve food security for vulnerable populations.

What they’re saying: Google emphasizes the long-term vision behind these collaborative efforts.

• “By addressing urgent challenges like wildfires and food insecurity, our hope is that these Collaboratives create a foundation for AI to make meaningful societal contributions for years to come,” Google.ai said in a March blog post.