The World Bank has issued a stern warning, indicating that developing countries have a narrow window of opportunity to effectively embrace and integrate artificial intelligence technologies. This warning emphasizes the urgency for these nations to develop robust strategies and investments to leverage AI for economic growth and societal advancement. The report likely outlines the significant challenges and potential benefits associated with AI adoption for economies in the Global South. Why it matters: This serves as a critical policy recommendation for Middle Eastern and North African nations to prioritize their AI strategies, investments in digital infrastructure, and human capital development to avoid being left behind in the global AI race.
G42 and Credo AI have signed an MoU to promote Responsible AI adoption in the Global South. The agreement was announced at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. G42 will leverage its experience deploying AI at scale, while Credo AI will provide its AI governance platform. Why it matters: The partnership aims to ensure that AI innovation and governance advance together, fostering trusted AI and responsible adoption across emerging markets.
G42 and Publicis Sapient have signed an MOU to explore a joint venture combining G42’s AI infrastructure with Publicis Sapient’s enterprise AI platforms. The venture aims to accelerate digital transformation across the UAE and Global South by deploying AI agents and enabling data-driven operations. It will deliver services across cloud modernization, AI use case development, and enterprise software engineering. Why it matters: This partnership could establish a major AI services platform in the UAE, driving adoption of AI across the region and beyond.
MBZUAI launched a report titled "AI for the Global South: 12 Critical Research Questions for the Next Decade" at the India AI Impact Summit. The report identifies 12 urgent research priorities related to AI's accessibility and benefits for developing countries. It grew out of MBZUAI’s AI for the Global South (AI4GS) workshop in December 2023, co-organized with IIT Delhi Abu Dhabi and sponsored by Microsoft. Why it matters: The report addresses the underrepresentation of local data, languages, and institutions from the Global South in modern AI systems, aiming to guide AI development towards inclusive and locally grounded systems.
MBZUAI is hosting the AI for the Global South (AI4GS) workshop in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi Abu Dhabi. The workshop aims to address the underrepresentation of the Global South in AI development and ensure AI benefits everyone. It brings together researchers from diverse disciplines and geographies, including representatives from NGOs, technology companies like Microsoft, Google, Cohere, and G42, and startups. Why it matters: The initiative promotes inclusive AI development, ensuring that AI tools and research consider the needs and contexts of underrepresented regions.