The rapid spread of artificial intelligence carries major risks for people already struggling in a digital world, a new United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report warns. While AI offers vast potential, the benefits are likely to flow disproportionately to wealthier nations unless deliberate steps are taken to ensure inclusive access to technology and essential services.
Released Tuesday, the report compares today’s moment to the industrial revolution’s “Great Divergence,” when Western nations surged ahead as others lagged behind. It argues that despite the focus on productivity and economic growth, the real issue is AI’s impact on human lives.
Lead author Michael Muthukrishna stressed the need to prioritize people over technology. Communities lacking electricity, connectivity and digital skills — including the elderly, displaced populations and those hit by climate disasters — risk being excluded and overlooked in data systems powering AI tools.
AI could significantly improve farming advice, medical diagnoses, disaster forecasting and poverty assessment. Yet concerns persist even in developed countries over energy-intensive data centers, rising carbon emissions, privacy threats and the spread of deepfakes and cyberattacks.
The report notes that while advanced Asian economies such as China, Japan, South Korea and Singapore are positioned to benefit, others — including Afghanistan, Maldives and Myanmar — lack the necessary infrastructure and expertise. Nearly a quarter of the Asia-Pacific region is still offline.
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UNDP economist Philip Schellekens warned that without urgent action to close digital gaps, millions could be locked out of digital payments, IDs, education and economic opportunity. He underscored the need for transparency, regulation and protections against bias and surveillance.
The report concludes that AI is becoming as essential as electricity or roads, calling on governments to invest in digital infrastructure, training and fair competition to ensure every community can share in the technology’s benefits.
Source: AP