Emerging countries have enormous scope in AI — not in competing for Nobel Prizes in AI research, but in developing the 85% of the global AI workforce that implements, adapts, and maintains AI systems. The economic multiplier here is massive.
The scope is substantial but differently configured than Western models. The opportunity isn’t about competing in foundational AI research—it’s about developing contextual AI applications, talent ecosystems, and human-centered implementation capabilities.
They have the world’s largest AI Services talent pool
Emerging economies own unique problem domains where their talent can lead globally. They can build world-class implementation expertise rather than only consuming technology. Rapid talent ecosystem development is achievable at modest GDP investments. It is possible to leapfrog to advanced applications rather than rebuild legacy systems. They have the talent pool to do just that.
- India’s AI Services Sector — India now hosts over 50,000 AI professionals and generates $20 billion annually from AI-related services (97% growth since 2019). This represents the world’s largest AI services talent pool outside the US. This is a replicable model for other nations.
- Brazil’s Agricultural AI Innovation — Brazilian companies have developed AI-powered precision agriculture solutions that increase crop yields by 25-30% in tropical climates—problems that Silicon Valley models weren’t solving.
- Vietnam’s Manufacturing Intelligence — Vietnam’s electronics manufacturers are deploying AI for quality control and supply chain optimization, creating a $500 million sector employing 8,000+ tech professionals in a 5-year span.
- Kenya’s FinTech AI Integration — Kenya’s mobile banking sector has integrated AI for credit assessment and fraud detection, serving 35 million users without traditional banking infrastructure.
Personalize for Emerging Economies Context
I worry that too often the development context for AI investments is seen from the US/China lens. define “development” contextually. Emerging economies should invest in:
- Developing domain-specific AI talent for their own industries (agriculture, manufacturing, finance, healthcare in their specific contexts)
- Creating AI implementation and integration excellence as an economic export
- Building the talent pipeline to become preferred partners for global AI deployment
- Developing ethical AI practices and localized governance models that Western companies are scrambling to understand
This isn’t second-tier work. This is where 80% of future AI value creation will occur. India’s 50,000 AI professionals are increasingly establishing development centers in Vietnam, Thailand, and Philippines rather than solely serving Western clients. This represents $3+ billion in intra-Global South investment, creating a talent flow that keeps value within emerging markets rather than extracting it to developed nations.
Brain Drain? No Talent Drain
The term brain drain seems to take a narrow lens and loss of “brain power” as the only thing that one should mourn. In the AI world it is the human capacity to collaborate in diverse ways that will matter. That needs people with very high EQ who can collaborate despite differences
Emerging economies suffer from a “talent drain to the West” problem. South-South cooperation reverses this dynamic by creating career pathways, innovation opportunities, and economic rewards within the Global South. When Vietnam can partner with India on manufacturing AI, and both can profit from the resulting intellectual property, talent stays in the region.
Regional AI Governance & Ethics Standards — Creating shared regulatory frameworks prevents a “regulatory race to the bottom” and establishes the emerging economies as ethical leaders in AI development, attracting talent seeking values-aligned work.
Shared Talent Mobility Agreements — Allowing AI professionals to work across emerging economy borders without visa restrictions, modeled on intra-EU freedom of movement but tailored to emerging economies’ capacities.
Collaborative Domain-Specific Development — Regional countries pooling resources to solve shared problems (tropical agriculture AI for African and South Asian nations, mining optimization for Latin America and Africa, etc.) creates both technological solutions and employable talent.
Reverse Brain Drain Incentives — Emerging economies collaborating to offer competitive compensation and leadership opportunities for diaspora professionals to return, rather than each country competing individually.
The countries that have the power of youth cannot be left to be miserable. The opportunity is too large to be ignored.
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South China Morning Post quoted me in their article about AI in India