Google and the World Bank Group have announced a strategic partnership to fast-track digital transformation across emerging markets through artificial intelligence (AI).
The collaboration aims to enhance access to essential public services and empower governments, businesses, and citizens to innovate within a shared digital ecosystem.
The initiative will combine Google Cloud’s Gemini AI models with the World Bank Group’s development expertise, enabling citizens to access digital services in more than 40 languages—even on low-end mobile devices.
This effort represents a significant step toward building a “digital commons” that promotes inclusive growth and efficient service delivery in the AI era.
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Central to the project is the deployment of Open Network Stacks, a digital framework designed as public infrastructure to help governments quickly build interoperable systems for critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and workforce development.
This new alliance builds on a successful pilot project in Uttar Pradesh, India, where AI-enabled digital tools helped thousands of smallholder farmers improve productivity and profitability.
“This collaboration is about building inclusive, AI-powered infrastructure that helps countries leapfrog into a more connected digital economy,” a World Bank official said.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the initiative, Google.org, the tech company’s philanthropic arm, will fund a new nonprofit organization called Networks for Humanity (NFH).
The group will focus on developing universal digital infrastructure using Beckn open network and Finternet asset tokenisation technologies. NFH also plans to establish regional innovation labs and pilot social impact projects globally. The partnership aligns with global efforts to promote equitable access to AI and digital public goods, positioning emerging markets to leverage technology for inclusive and sustainable growth.
