progress

During a recent trip to Kazakhstan, I was struck by people’s enthusiasm for artificial intelligence (AI). Virtually everyone I met (scientists, politicians, entrepreneurs) was clearly convinced that this technology would help solve complex problems, from diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on natural resource exports to increasing access to key services, especially for people in remote regions. I expected AI knowledge to spread more slowly, and yet this positive attitude probably shouldn’t have surprised me. After all, the rapid development of AI offers great opportunities for developing countries.