On Tuesday, a UN report highlighted that Artificial Intelligence might increase the divide between developed and developing nations, urging for policy actions to mitigate its effects.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) report cautions about a potential “great divergence” in economic performance, skill sets, and governance among countries.
“AI is ushering in a new era of growing inequality between nations, reversing the convergence seen over the past 50 years,” stated Philip Schellekens, Chief Economist for the UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Bureau, during a press briefing in Geneva.
Entitled ‘The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries,’ the UNDP report notes that trade, technology, and development have previously helped narrow disparities, boosting income, health, and education.
However, these advancements are now at risk of being undermined, the report warns.
Schellekens also emphasized that wealthier nations would eventually face negative consequences if poorer countries are left behind in the AI revolution.
“If inequality continues to escalate, its repercussions, including impacts on security and undocumented migration, will become increasingly challenging,” he explained.
