What even is the AI divide, anyway?
Having grown up across various corners of the globe, I’ve seen firsthand the stark contrasts in technological access and its impact on communities. These experiences have shaped my understanding of what I call the “AI divide” – a modern manifestation of global inequality.
To me, bridging the AI divide is about redefining what it means to participate in the digital age. It's not just about access to cutting-edge gadgets or possessing coding skills; it’s about democratising the power of artificial intelligence for everyone, regardless of their background or location.
But what exactly is the AI divide? At its core, it refers to the growing gap between those who have access to and benefit from artificial intelligence technologies and those who do not. This divide manifests itself in several critical ways.
An economic divide
While Silicon Valley and Wall Street are raking in the AI billions, countless small businesses and entire developing nations are being left behind. AI is driving a lot of economic growth and innovation, but the benefits are not evenly distributed.
Tech giants like Google, Amazon, and Facebook leverage AI to offer hyper-personalised services, optimise operations, and create new revenue streams. These companies are experiencing exponential growth — by the end of 2023, Apple’s market cap exceeded the GDPs of all but six of the world's top economies. Meanwhile, small businesses without access to sophisticated AI tools struggle to compete in this increasingly data-driven marketplace.
The concentration of AI benefits in the hands of a few could exacerbate existing income disparities and lead to further social and economic stratification. This economic divide is about more than just corporate profits; it bleeds out to job markets, wage growth, and even national economic competitiveness. Countries and regions that fail to develop strong AI capabilities risk falling behind in the global economy, potentially leading to a new form of technological colonialism.
A skills divide
As AI automates many routine tasks, there’s a growing demand for workers with AI skills. This is about more than coding — it’s about creating a workforce that can critically engage with AI, shape its development, and ensure it serves all of humanity. It’s a new form of literacy.
However, not everyone has access to the education and training needed for these high-paying jobs, leading to a skills gap and potential job displacement for those without the necessary expertise. This divide is particularly pronounced in developing countries and underserved communities, where educational resources for cutting-edge technologies may be scarce.
Automation driven by AI could lead to job losses in certain sectors, particularly those involving routine and repetitive tasks. Without adequate support and retraining programs, this could result in increased unemployment and social unrest. The World Economic Forum estimates that by 2025, 85 million jobs may be displaced by a shift in the division of labor between humans and machines, while 97 million new roles may emerge that are more adapted to the new division of labor between humans, machines and algorithms.
An access divide
Access to AI technologies and the infrastructure required to support them, such as high-speed internet and powerful computing resources, is unevenly distributed across the globe. This divide is particularly stark between urban and rural areas, and between developed and developing nations.
When entire communities lack this basic infrastructure to even participate, their perspectives, needs, and potential contributions are being excluded — from the development of technologies that will shape all our futures. This exclusion not only limits economic opportunities but also leads to AI systems that may not adequately serve diverse global populations.
On the other hand, AI offers incredible potential to developing nations who are bearing the brunt of climate change. For example, a team of researchers in Senegal have developed an artificial intelligence (AI) tool called Africa Agriculture Watch. This tool helps address the unpredictability of ever-changing growing conditions, such as historic droughts, which has been at the forefront of the challenges farmers are facing in adapting to climate change.
Bridging the AI divide is about ensuring that the benefits of AI are not concentrated in the hands of a few, but are accessible to all, regardless of their geographic or socioeconomic background. In this sense, the era of AI gives us new opportunities to create a more equitable digital future — one that benefits a broader range of people.
