In a recent conversation during the Nobel Prize Dialogue 2025 in Bengaluru, Robinson — recipient of the 2024 Nobel Prize in Economics for his work on how institutions shape prosperity — warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to massively exacerbate global inequality. He argued that productivity gains from AI will largely accrue to wealthy countries and already-well-off individuals, leaving poorer nations and less skilled workers further behind.
Robinson emphasised that the structure of ownership and access to AI technologies is critical: when elite firms, rich countries, or a narrow segment of society own the robots, data centres and self-driving cars, the benefits concentrate at the top. Within developed economies, he foresees a “huge increase in inequality” as routine jobs are replaced and humans compete with machines.
He also connected this risk of inequality with broader institutional fragility. Robinson argued that the erosion of inclusive institutions — those that distribute opportunities widely rather than serve elites — has already contributed to democratic backsliding and the rise of populist figures. The threat posed by AI therefore isn’t just economic but has profound social and political implications.
In light of these concerns, Robinson called for “very aggressive policy” to counterbalance the risks of AI-driven inequality. He urged governments to rethink labour markets, redistribution, ownership models and governance frameworks so that the gains from AI are shared broadly rather than captured by a few. Without such steps, he warned, the next wave of inequality may prove even more destabilizing than past waves.
