The United Nations has issued a strong warning that artificial intelligence could significantly widen the divide between wealthy and poorer nations “if urgent action is not taken to make the technology accessible to everyone.”
This warning was delivered in a new report released on Tuesday by the United Nations Development Programme. The report suggests that richer countries are currently poised to gain the majority of the benefits offered by AI, while numerous developing nations risk being left behind. This is primarily attributed to existing challenges such as weak digital infrastructure, low skills levels, and limited access to essential services like electricity and the internet.
The report draws a comparison between the current situation and the Industrial Revolution, noting that Western nations advanced rapidly during that period while others struggled to maintain pace.
According to the UNDP, the most critical issue is not just how AI will transform industries or jobs, but how it will impact people “whose lives already depend on fragile systems.” The report emphasizes that many communities still suffer from a lack of stable power, internet access, and digital skills, which makes them particularly vulnerable in a world increasingly driven by data.
The authors cautioned that people who are displaced by conflict, climate disasters, or poverty may not even be represented in the datasets used to train AI tools. This exclusion means their needs could be overlooked, and the report starkly states that such groups “risk becoming invisible.”
While issuing the caution, the UNDP also acknowledged the immense opportunities presented by AI. It stated clearly that “AI can lift productivity, spark new industries, and help latecomers catch up.” Furthermore, the UNDP added that the technology has the potential to support farmers with improved advice, enhance medical diagnosis accuracy, and deliver faster and more reliable weather and disaster forecasts.
The report elaborated on the potential of AI in governance, explaining that “AI systems that analyze poverty, health, and disaster risks enable faster, fairer, and more transparent decisions, turning data into continuous learning and public value.”
However, the UNDP also raised concerns regarding the pressure AI places on resources. It highlighted that even advanced countries, such as the United States, have expressed fears that the required data centres could consume excessive amounts of electricity and water, potentially threatening climate goals and public health.
The report also pointed out serious ethical and security concerns associated with the technology. Researchers have found instances of hackers utilizing AI to accelerate cyberattacks, while synthetic content, like deepfakes, is becoming increasingly difficult to detect and poses a risk of misleading the public.
The UNDP observed that several Asian countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore, are better positioned to benefit from AI integration. Conversely, other nations, such as Afghanistan, Myanmar, and the Maldives, currently lack the necessary power supply, technical skills, and equipment to effectively participate in the global AI economy.
The organization added a further layer of complexity, noting that even within highly advanced countries, regional inequalities exist, which leave certain communities susceptible to falling behind.
The report’s findings indicate that approximately a quarter of the Asia-Pacific region still lacks internet access. The UNDP warned that without significant improvements in connectivity, millions of people risk being excluded from essential digital tools, online payments, digital ID systems, and the education necessary to compete globally, suggesting they could be “stranded on the wrong side of an AI-driven global economy.”
Other risks detailed in the report include surveillance that breaches privacy, AI systems that operate as opaque “black boxes,” and technologies that might reinforce bias against specific groups. The report stresses that robust regulation and transparency are essential requirements to ensure AI use remains fair and accountable.
According to the UNDP, “AI is becoming the region’s next essential infrastructure, like power, roads and schools, with faster upsides and sharper risks.” It concluded by urging governments to prioritize investment in digital infrastructure, education, training, social protection, and fair competition policies.
The report ultimately concludes that the overarching goal must be to expand access to AI so that all countries and communities can reap its benefits, while simultaneously protecting those groups who are most likely to face significant disruption.
