What does knowledge mean in an age of AI, deepfakes, and disinformation? When information is everywhere, the real challenge is distinguishing insight from noise.

In this episode of the Development Podcast, host Toni Karasanyi explores how knowledge is evolving in a world where machines can generate convincing arguments and personalized realities shape how we consume information.

Tech journalist Jamie Bartlett, author of How to Talk to AI (And How Not To), explains how individuals can use AI tools without being misled — and why critical thinking matters more than ever.

Paschal Donohoe, the World Bank Group’s Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer, discusses how the Bank is turning more than 80 years of global development experience into practical knowledge that helps countries tackle challenges, including creating jobs and scale solutions in a fast-changing world.

[00:00] Is knowledge still power?

[03:10] How AI can alter our understanding of the world

[10:24] How we can use Large Language Models (LLMs) better

[13:32] Why results and evidence matter

[18:52] The future of AI in development

In development, big wins come from working together — building trust, sharing expertise, and bringing the right partners to the table.

In this episode of The Development Podcast, we explore why partnerships matter — from the teamwork and great duos we see in sport, to the coalitions needed to deliver results at scale.

We look at potential from a partnership with Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University (AAMU) — a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and an 1890 land-grant institution with a long tradition of practical, community-focused problem-solving — and how AAMU’s expertise can connect to global development priorities, including Mission 300 and AgriConnect.

Join us as we hear from: Ambassador Roya Rahmani, Director, Global Engagement, World Bank Group; Dr. Daniel K. Wims, President, Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University; Ajay Banga, President, World Bank Group; and S.L. Price, sports journalist and author of The American Game: History and Hope in the Country of Lacrosse.

[00:00] Every great team, every unforgettable moment, starts with partnership

[00:50] S.L. Price, sports journalist on why partnerships matter in sport

[05:30] Some recent partnerships in health and energy

[07:34] Partnerships with academia and the legacy of HBCUs

[12:52] What Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University could bring to Mission 300

[18:04] Why agriculture matters and the potential of partnerships for AgriConnect

This year countries grappled with a cascade of shocks and economic turbulence, from ongoing conflicts and economic uncertainty to catastrophic weather that tested communities. Yet in the face of these challenges, nations proved far more resilient and adaptive than predicted.

In this episode of The Development Podcast, we look back at what shaped 2025 and look ahead to 2026 and beyond. As the global landscape rapidly shifts, we explore how Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are adapting and how different parts of the World Bank Group, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), are working as one to maximize our development impact.

Join us for insights on these issues and more from Anna Bjerde, the World Bank's Managing Director of Operations and Raj Kumar, the founding President and Editor-in-Chief of Devex.

[00:00] Challenges and takeaways from 2025

[06:11] How development organizations are evolving and adapting

[12:27] What can we expect from 2026?

[16:26] Wish for the next year

[17:30] 2025 through the eyes of a Kenyan farmer

To learn more about the World Bank Group’s work check out: How to Drive Intelligent Outcomes in an Age of AI