Small AI: More and Better Jobs | 2026 Annual Meetings

How can practical, affordable AI help create jobs in developing countries? Watch Small AI: More and Better Jobs live from the 2026 Annual Meetings in Bangkok. World Bank Group President Ajay Banga joins Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, and other leaders to explore how AI applications can move beyond promising pilots and reach more people. From farming and small businesses to public services, the discussion will examine what it takes to make AI work within local languages, infrastructure, and budgets—and support job creation. SPEAKERS • Ajay Banga — President, World Bank Group • Tharman Shanmugaratnam — President, Republic of Singapore • Kristalina Georgieva — Managing Director, International Monetary Fund @imf • Tiffany Xingyu Wang — Author, The Trust Code • Ximena Lincolao — Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Chile • Vilas Dhar — President, Patrick J. McGovern Foundation @patrickjmcgovernfoundation • Kathleen Reen — Senior Director, Global Affairs and Market Development, SpaceXAI @space-xai • Pierre Laporte — Minister for Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment, Republic of Seychelles • Doron Avni — Vice President of Government Affairs, @Google • Shalina Wadhwani — Director, Wadhwani AI US • Ekniti Nitithanprapas — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Thailand MODERATOR • Rajini Vaidyanathan — Chief Presenter, BBC World Service The 2026 Annual Meetings bring global leaders together in Bangkok, October 12–18, to discuss jobs, investment, growth, and practical solutions for development. Learn more: https://live.worldbank.org/en/series/... 00:00 What is small AI? 03:07 Welcome to Small AI: More and Better Jobs 06:44 Ajay Banga: AI and job creation 09:14 AI, growth and jobs in developing countries 15:14 Kristalina Georgieva: AI’s economic impact 19:58 Small AI in agriculture and healthcare 25:22 How AI is changing jobs and labor markets 30:41 Skills, first jobs and lifelong learning 37:48 Building trust in AI | Tiffany Xingyu Wang 43:25 Small AI in action: Farming and career guidance 45:14 Scaling small AI: Panel introduction 46:39 Chile: AI skills and pathways to employment 50:01 El Salvador: AI tutoring and teacher training 53:15 Google and AgriConnect: AI for small farmers 56:17 Seychelles: Digital skills, tourism and fisheries 58:40 AI inclusion: The role of philanthropy 1:01:17 Building trust through results and local ownership 1:06:18 Wadhwani AI: Supporting frontline healthcare 1:12:43 Scaling healthcare AI: Lessons from implementation 1:15:18 Thailand: AI tools for small businesses 1:17:03 Thailand’s strategy for AI and jobs 1:22:35 Closing remarks and upcoming events 🔔 Sign up to receive updates about upcoming events: http://wrld.bg/cxHK50W56x3 ▶️ Watch more event recordings:    / @worldbankgroup   ABOUT US 🌐 The World Bank Group (WBG) is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development on a livable planet. http://www.worldbank.org #WBGmeetings