AI and Human Development: A Qualitative Perspective from Bangladesh
AI and Human Development: A Qualitative Perspective from Bangladesh
February 18, 2026
This report, produced by the UNDP Bangladesh Accelerator Lab in collaboration with the UNDP Global Accelerator Lab Team and the Human Development Report Office (HDRO), presents some of the first qualitative insights into how diverse communities in Bangladesh perceive, understand, and interact with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Following initial work done in the Accelerator Labs Network on conducting national dialogues on Frontier Technologies, in collaboration with Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, this study draws on focus group discussions and interviews held across Bangladesh and highlights how different demographic groups—from youth and digital creators to marginalized communities—experience and engage with AI technologies. The findings offer grounded and nuanced perspectives that can inform inclusive, equitable, and people‑centred AI policies and design for Bangladesh and the broader Global Majority populations.