Page 7 - Connecting the Future How Connectivity and AI Unlock New Potential

Connecting the Future: How Connectivity and AI Unlock New Potential

Introduction: Harnessing AI for Economic Growth and Societal

benefits

AI is rapidly transforming how services are delivered, decisions are made, and economies grow. In
healthcare, agriculture, and other key sectors, AI is driving better outcomes through earlier diag-
noses, smarter resource use, and data-informed solutions.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that AI could raise global output by 0.5% annually
between 2025 and 2030. This growth could translate into higher incomes and new job oppor-
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tunities in emerging and technology-enabled sectors, improved public and private services for
consumers and citizens, and increased resources for governments and businesses to direct toward
innovation, infrastructure, and workforce development.
These benefits offer notable potential for low- and middle-income countries, where AI-enabled
tools across government, education, health, finance, and environmental management can expand
access and strengthen resilience. But unlocking this potential requires reliable, secure, and afford-
able digital infrastructure. Universal broadband is essential to close existing divides and ensure
fair access to AI-driven opportunities.
As AI models become more powerful, they require resilient, secure, and scalable infrastructure.
Without investment in this foundational layer, the benefits of AI will remain out of reach for many.
Just as connectivity powers AI, AI is increasingly used to manage and secure network infrastructure,
optimizing traffic flow, predicting outages, and enhancing cyber resilience.
While innovation is surging, governance frameworks and infrastructure investments are still catch-
ing up. Without deliberate action, the digital divide may deepen as AI adoption accelerates.
Multi-stakeholder collaboration – through government, the private sector, civil society, and multi-
lateral organizations – can help build more efficient systems and expand access to digital tools,
turning this challenge into an opportunity for widespread growth.

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