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

August 5, 2025 | Anil Wasif, MPP '21, in his article for聽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 鈥渁rchitectural innovation鈥� rather than pursuing capital-intensive invention. Using examples such as an AI chatbot on WhatsApp for teachers in Sierra Leone and Bangladesh鈥檚 鈥淏angla Tesla鈥� 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.聽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鈥檚 ability to apply contextual knowledge effectively.