Agenda Dialogues

AI Lifting all Boats

Jan 23, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the IMF, highlights AI's potential to boost global growth by 0.8% while warning of the disparity between nations. Hatem Dowidar, CEO of e&, provides insights into private sector challenges and opportunities. Brad Smith of Microsoft discusses infrastructure investments and global AI strategies. The experts emphasize the importance of education, collaboration, and trust in bridging the AI divide, ensuring that emerging economies are not left behind in this technological revolution.

45:40

Creator website

Episode guests

Brad Smith

Hatem Dowidar

Kristalina Ivanova Georgieva

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

AI has the potential to significantly enhance global economic growth, yet disparities in access leave emerging markets at a disadvantage.

Rwanda's AI strategies aim to boost GDP and improve efficiency in agriculture, but face challenges related to digital skills and access.

Deep dives

AI's Potential for Global Growth

Research indicates that AI has the potential to significantly boost global growth, particularly in advanced economies. It is suggested that AI could lift economic growth by 0.8%, yet disparities exist in how different regions can access and benefit from this technology. For instance, while approximately 60% of jobs in advanced economies are positively exposed to AI, this figure drops to only 40% in emerging markets and even lower to 26% in low-income countries. These statistics highlight the growing gap between wealthier nations and lower-income nations regarding the potential benefits of AI, underlining the need for strategies to ensure more equitable access.

Intro

2min

Harnessing AI for Global Growth

21min

The Unexpected Beneficiaries of Innovation

2min

The Role of Education and Collaboration in Africa's Technological Advancement

5min

Smartphones and AI: A Data Revolution in Africa

5min

Trust and Challenges in AI Adoption

8min

Empowering Education and Collaboration in the Age of AI

3min

As the race for AI leadership intensifies, access to resilient digital infrastructure, advanced computer capabilities and strong public-private investment are essential. A few countries are sprinting ahead, securing their competitive advantage, while others struggle to keep up. What strategies can bridge this growing AI divide and ensure more equitable access to AI benefits globally?

This is the full audio from a session at the Annual Meeting 2025 in Davos.

Speakers:

Hatem Dowidar, Group Chief Executive Officer, e&

Brad Smith, Vice-Chair and President, Microsoft

Bill Thomas, Global Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, KPMG

Paula Ingabire, Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Innovation of Rwanda

Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Vijay Vythianathan Vaitheeswaran, Editor, Global Energy and Climate Innovation, The Economist

Catch up on all the action from the Annual Meeting 2025 at wef.ch/wef25 and across social media using the hashtag #WEF25.

Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts:

YouTube: - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts

Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164

Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/15§ 34915560

Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552

Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub