AI’s $4.8 Trillion Future: Bridging the Digital Divide
In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to contribute a staggering $4.8 trillion to the global economy, the United Nations (UN) has issued a clarion call for urgent action to prevent a widening digital divide. The Technology and Innovation Report 2025, released by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), highlights the growing inequality in the AI landscape and offers a roadmap for countries to harness AI’s potential.
The Concentration of Power
The report reveals a stark concentration of power, with just 100 companies, primarily based in the United States and China, accounting for 40% of the world’s private investment in AI research and development. Meanwhile, 118 countries, mostly from the Global South, are absent from global AI governance discussions. This imbalance underscores the need for stronger international cooperation to shift the focus from technology to people, enabling countries to co-create a global AI framework.
A Jobs Revolution
AI is set to revolutionize the job market, with up to 40% of global jobs potentially affected. While AI offers new opportunities through productivity gains and the creation of new industries, it also raises concerns about automation and job displacement, particularly in economies where low-cost labor has been a competitive advantage. However, AI is not just about replacing jobs; it can also create new industries and empower workers. By investing in reskilling, upskilling, and workforce adaptation, governments can ensure AI enhances employment opportunities rather than eliminating them.
Preparing for the Future
To avoid being left behind, developing countries must strengthen what UNCTAD calls the “three key leverage points”: infrastructure, data, and skills. This involves investing in fast, reliable internet connections and the computing power needed to store and process vast amounts of information. It also means ensuring access to diverse, high-quality datasets to train AI systems effectively and fairly. Crucially, it requires building education systems that equip people with the digital and problem-solving skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven world.
A Global Effort
Beyond national policies, UNCTAD emphasizes the importance of international collaboration to guide AI development. The report proposes establishing a shared global facility to provide all countries with equitable access to computing power and AI tools. It also recommends creating a public disclosure framework for AI, akin to existing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, to boost transparency and accountability.
Conclusion
In summary, the UN’s report underscores the need for global cooperation to bridge the AI divide and ensure that technological progress benefits all. Key takeaways include:
- The concentration of AI power in a few countries necessitates global collaboration.
- AI’s impact on jobs requires proactive workforce adaptation strategies.
- Developing countries must focus on infrastructure, data, and skills to harness AI’s potential.
- A global facility and public disclosure framework can promote equitable AI development.
- People must be at the center of the AI revolution to ensure inclusive growth.
By placing people at the center of the AI revolution, we can ensure that technological progress drives inclusive human development and equitable income distribution.