Sustainable Development Conference

As artificial intelligence transforms economies and societies around the world, a critical question remains: can AI help foster more equitable and just development outcomes?

Drawing on insights from the forthcoming World Development Report 2026: Artificial Intelligence for Development, the Institute for Economic Development convened a special session during the Sustainable Development Conference in Prato to examine how AI could reshape productivity, public service delivery, and economic opportunities in low-income countries, particularly across Africa.

Through a presentation of the report and a panel discussion featuring leading scholars of technology, AI, and development in Africa, alongside perspectives on global AI ethics and governance from the Vatican, participants explored the policies, institutions, and ethical frameworks needed to ensure that AI contributes not only to economic growth, but also to reducing inequalities and advancing global justice.
 

SPEAKERS

Chair and Moderator:
Gero Carletto
Head of Rome Center, Institute for Economic Development, World Bank Group 

Engineer Bainomugisha 
Chair of the Department of Computer Science at Mekerere University, Uganda

Gaurav Nayyar
Lead Economist, World Bank Group

Maria Savona
Professor, LUISS Guido Carli University

Enrico Santarelli 
Professor, University of Bologna

Simona Tiribelli
Assistant Professor, University of Macerata