鶹ýվ

News

Anil Wasif on Grounding the AI Revolution in Local Realities | Policy Magazine

Published: 12 August 2025

August 5, 2025 | Anil Wasif, MPP '21, in his article for Policy Magazine, argues that low- and middle-income countries should prioritize context-specific solutions over expensive, large-scale AI models. He contends that successful adoption depends on adapting existing technologies to local realities. A process known as “architectural innovation” rather than pursuing capital-intensive invention. Using examples such as an AI chatbot on WhatsApp for teachers in Sierra Leone and Bangladesh’s “Bangla Tesla” electric rickshaws, Wasif shows how locally tailored innovations can deliver significant economic and social benefits. However, he also highlights the risks when rapid adoption outpaces government oversight, leading to safety issues, environmental harm, or regulatory gaps. In the broader context of global development, Wasif concludes that the AI revolution for the Global Majority will be shaped by local conditions, and success will depend on a government’s ability to apply contextual knowledge effectively.

Back to top