Technology and innovation report 2025: Inclusive artificial Intelligence for development: Overview

Frontier technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, are reshaping the functioning of economies and societies. However, their rapid and widespread diffusion is often outpacing the ability of many Governments to respond. The Technology and Innovation Report 2025: Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for Development surveys the complex artificial intelligence landscape, aiming to help decision makers design science, technology and innovation policies that foster inclusive technological progress. The use of artificial intelligence has the potential to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, but if unevenly distributed and not guided by ethical oversight and transparency, its diffusion can exacerbate existing inequalities. The report analyses the requirements and policies needed at all stages, from development to adoption, to foster inclusive technological progress for sustainable development. This requires a multidimensional and evidence-based approach. For this purpose, three key leverage points – infrastructure, data and skills – are identified, offering a broad socioeconomic perspective and highlighting the need to build resilient infrastructure and promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and innovation.