A new report by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns that while artificial intelligence (AI) promises major gains — in productivity, health, disaster response and more — most of these benefits are likely to be captured by wealthy nations and advantaged populations, potentially widening global and within‑country inequalities.
The report draws parallels to the “Great Divergence” of the industrial revolution: a period when some countries advanced rapidly while others lagged, deepening disparities. It cautions that people — especially in developing countries or disadvantaged communities — who lack access to internet, reliable electricity, digital devices, or AI‑relevant skills may be excluded from the benefits of AI altogether.
Still, the report notes, AI also has transformative potential that could benefit under‑served communities — for example through faster medical diagnoses, improved farming advice, better disaster‑risk assessments, and tools to analyse poverty or public‑health data. However, to realize these benefits equitably, it calls for investments in digital infrastructure, education, skills‑training, social protections, and policies that democratize access to AI technologies.
At the same time, the report highlights broader risks: increased energy and water consumption by AI infrastructure (which may hinder climate goals), as well as worries around privacy, cybersecurity, potential misuse (e.g. deepfakes), algorithmic bias, and surveillance. The authors argue that without transparent, inclusive regulation and a “people‑first” approach, AI could deepen inequality rather than bridge it.
