AI and the digital divide

Table of Contents

In a quiet village in sub-Saharan Africa, a schoolteacher named Amina struggles to download an introductory textbook from an unstable 3G network. Half a world away, in the glass-and-steel towers of Silicon Valley, an executive at Google oversees AI algorithms so advanced they can predict pandemics, design molecules, and generate lifelike human conversations—all while running on servers the size of a small country’s GDP. The gap between these two realities is not just a divide; it’s a chasm deepened by algorithms, power, and access.

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) offers transformative potential for economies and societies worldwide. However, the unequal distribution of resources, skills, and infrastructure has created an AI divide, disproportionately benefiting high-income nations while leaving developing countries at risk of further marginalization. High-income nations dominate AI research, development, and application, leveraging extensive digital infrastructure and skilled workforces. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face significant barriers, including inadequate infrastructure, limited educational resources, and restricted access to advanced AI tools (United Nations, 2024).

Questions:

  1. How can international organizations like the International Labour Organization collaborate with governments and private companies to promote equitable AI development and prevent the emergence of a new “AI divide”?
  2. As highlighted in Mind the AI Divide, what strategies should governments and international organizations adopt to help workers adapt to AI-driven transformations in the global labor market?
  3. How can governments help ensure more democratic access to AI tools?

Resources

Ben-Avie, J. (2024, January 19). Don’t let AI become the newest digital divide. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/blog/dont-let-ai-become-newest-digital-divide

International Labour Organization. (2024). Mind the AI divide: Shaping a global perspective on the future of work. https://www.ilo.org/publications/major-publications/mind-ai-divide-shaping-global-perspective-future-work