Ghana’s low-cost artificial intelligence tutoring platform has delivered learning gains equivalent to almost an entire academic year in mathematics for as little as $5 per student, offering a blueprint for how developing countries can use AI to improve education without expensive infrastructure investments, according to the World Bank.
The World Development Report 2026 cited Ghana’s Rori AI tutoring system as evidence that developing economies can adapt artificial intelligence to local conditions, using basic mobile phones and text messaging to overcome challenges such as weak internet connectivity and limited computing power.
The report found that students who used the platform achieved “nearly a full year of mathematics learning” at a cost of about $5 per pupil, underscoring AI’s potential to expand access to quality education in low-income countries. The system was specifically designed to operate on basic phones and unreliable internet networks, making it suitable for rural and underserved communities.
Rather than investing billions of dollars in data centers and large language models, the World Bank argues that poorer countries should prioritize adapting existing technologies to local needs, particularly in sectors such as education, healthcare and agriculture. For many countries, the greatest benefits from AI are likely to come from simple applications that can operate offline or on limited internet connections.
“AI, however, is unusually sensitive to context: A tool that works in one country may fail in another unless it is adapted to local languages, institutions, and ways of working,” the report said.
Ghana’s example contrasts with experiences elsewhere. In Nigeria, a medical AI system trained on data from advanced economies recommended more laboratory tests than local healthcare systems required, highlighting the risks of importing technologies without customization.
The World Bank said AI’s rapid spread presents a rare opportunity for developing economies to close long-standing gaps in access to essential services. Unlike previous technological revolutions, artificial intelligence is reaching poorer nations at an unprecedented pace. Middle-income countries accounted for half of global ChatGPT traffic within six months of its launch, according to the report.
The report argues that AI could help address shortages of teachers, doctors and legal professionals by augmenting rather than replacing workers. Applications range from helping teachers prepare lessons and assisting nurses in interpreting medical scans to providing farmers with crop and weather advice.
Still, the World Bank cautioned that the technology’s benefits will depend on investments in electricity, internet access and education systems, as well as policies that encourage local adaptation rather than reliance on foreign AI models.
“For most developing economies, the greatest opportunity lies in adapting AI to local needs,” the report said.
