A new report by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns that the rapid global spread of artificial intelligence (AI) is happening far faster than many countries can adapt — and if left unmanaged, this could deepen the gap between wealthy and poor nations. The report, titled The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries, underscores that uneven digital infrastructure, lack of skills, weak governance and limited access to technology will prevent some nations from benefiting from AI, while others race ahead.
The UNDP report flags the Asia‑Pacific region — home to over 55 % of the world’s population — as a critical zone of divergence. While some countries like those investing heavily in AI infrastructure and innovation stand to see meaningful gains, many others lack basic digital access: a significant portion of the population remains offline, and in places like South Asia women are far less likely than men to own smartphones. As a result, huge swathes of people may remain excluded from AI-driven benefits — from improved public services to new economic opportunities.
The report also highlights serious social and economic risks: millions of jobs — particularly among women and youth in lower‑income and informal sectors — are at high risk of disruption due to automation. Moreover, AI systems may perpetuate or amplify bias and exclusion: for example, algorithmic credit‑scoring models trained on urban, male-dominated data often misclassify women or rural borrowers as high-risk, denying them financial access.
That said, the report doesn’t claim inequality is inevitable. Rather, it argues strongly for proactive, coordinated policy — including investments in digital infrastructure, education and skills training, inclusive governance, and equitable access to AI tools. The choices nations make now will determine whether AI becomes a force for shared progress or a driver of a new global divide.
