UNDP Warns AI Could Deepen Global Inequality
Artificial intelligence could widen the divide between developed and developing nations unless urgent policy action is taken, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warned in a new report released on Tuesday. The report highlights the growing risk of a global “great divergence” in economic progress, skills, and governance capacity as AI reshapes industries and labour markets.
Risk of a “New Great Divergence”
The report, titled “The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries,” argues that while trade, technology, and development have narrowed global gaps over the past five decades, the rapid advance of AI could reverse much of that progress.
“We think that AI is heralding a new era of rising inequality between countries, following years of convergence in the last 50 years,” said Philip Schellekens, Chief Economist at UNDP’s Asia Pacific Regional Bureau, during a press briefing in Geneva.
According to the report, countries that lack digital infrastructure, skilled workers, and AI governance frameworks risk being left behind, potentially losing out on economic growth and innovation opportunities.
Threats to Economic and Social Stability
UNDP warns that AI could significantly reshape job markets and national competitiveness, favouring countries that are already technologically advanced. This would not only slow development in poorer nations but could also undermine the global progress made in income, education, and health.
Schellekens noted that inequality would not remain a problem for developing countries alone. “If inequality continues to rise, the spillover effects of that in terms of the security agenda, in terms of undocumented forms of migration, will also become more daunting,” he said.
Call for Inclusive AI Policies
The report calls on governments to implement policies that promote equitable access to AI technologies, invest in digital education and workforce training, and ensure that AI development aligns with sustainable development goals. It stresses that proactive collaboration between nations is essential to prevent economic polarisation and social instability.
UNDP’s findings reinforce growing international concern that without regulation and inclusivity, AI could deepen existing disparities rather than bridge them — reversing decades of progress in global equality.
with inputs from Reuters