AI in a world full of disparities! The stark reality

Imagine two worlds existing side by side. In one world, artificial intelligence is helping doctors make life-saving decisions, guiding farmers to optimize their yields, and personalizing learning for students. In the other world, people struggle to access even the most basic healthcare, education, or agricultural support. These two worlds aren’t separated by centuries, they coexist today, divided by geography, wealth, and, increasingly, technology. The advent of AI has been hailed as a new frontier for humanity, but the reality is more complex and far more unequal.

The promise of artificial intelligence is immense. AI can analyze vast amounts of data to identify diseases before they spread, optimize transportation to reduce emissions or help tailor education to individual needs. But for billions of people, these promises are as distant as the moon. The digital divide; a gap that used to simply mean access to computers or the internet, now means being shut out of the most powerful tools ever developed for progress and prosperity.

The digital divide isn’t just a technological issue; it’s a fundamental inequality that touches on education, health, economic opportunity, and human dignity. More than 3 billion people remain offline, and for them, AI is not a beacon of progress but a symbol of exclusion. The divide is creating a future where those with access to AI can thrive, while those without it are left further behind. It’s a new dimension of inequality, and if not addressed, it will solidify into a lasting barrier between the "AI-haves" and the "AI-have-nots."

AI is being developed, funded, and deployed primarily by wealthy nations and tech giants, which means the benefits are often concentrated among those who already hold power and influence. These technologies are primarily designed with developed markets in mind, optimized for urban environments, high-speed internet, and the needs of affluent consumers. Meanwhile, billions of people, including those most vulnerable to climate change, disease, and poverty, are left without the infrastructure or resources to use these advancements.

Consider the healthcare sector; AI is transforming diagnostics and treatment planning, but mostly in advanced healthcare systems with the requisite data, infrastructure, and funding. Rural clinics, where healthcare workers struggle with basic supplies and intermittent electricity, aren’t even part of this conversation. In agriculture, AI-driven insights help farmers in developed regions optimize every aspect of production, while subsistence farmers facing increasingly erratic weather patterns due to climate change continue to operate in the dark, relying on outdated knowledge and intuition.

The AI revolution, as it stands, is not a revolution for all, it is primarily a tool for those who already have the means to leverage it. This poses a significant ethical question: How can we celebrate technological advancement while entire communities are being left behind?

AI is also fundamentally shaped by the biases of those who create it. The data sets used to train AI are often drawn from contexts that are far removed from the realities of the developing world. Facial recognition software, for example, often fails to accurately identify people with darker skin tones, a direct consequence of the underrepresentation of non-white individuals in training data. In many parts of the world, local languages, accents, and cultural nuances are poorly understood by AI systems, limiting their usability and relevance.

This is not just an issue of technological inefficiency, it’s a real threat to equity and justice. Biased AI can amplify stereotypes, exclude marginalized communities, and perpetuate inequalities. If AI systems continue to be trained on data that is predominantly sourced from affluent, urban populations, they will continue to reflect and reinforce the inequalities that already exist.

There’s a glaring disconnect between where AI is being developed and deployed and where it is needed most. Much of the innovation in AI is focused on convenience, recommendation algorithms that help users find the best restaurant, voice assistants that turn on the lights, or personalization that tailors ads. But these advancements, while impressive, do little to address the challenges faced by billions of people around the world.

The most pressing needs are not for AI to optimize consumer convenience, but to address existential challenges: food security, access to clean water, quality healthcare, and education. AI has the potential to help solve these problems, but the investment and focus have not been there. For communities without basic internet, reliable electricity, or digital literacy, the benefits of AI are out of reach.

Addressing this imbalance requires a fundamental shift in how we think about and develop AI. The goal should not be to simply create more powerful algorithms but to ensure that these technologies serve humanity as a whole, not just those with the wealth and infrastructure to use them. A few key actions could help steer AI toward a more equitable future:

Firstly, Without basic digital infrastructure, reliable electricity, internet access, and affordable devices, AI is inaccessible. Investment in this foundational layer is crucial. There is an urgent need for global cooperation to ensure that developing regions have the infrastructure required to participate in the AI revolution.

Second, AI development must focus on real human needs, especially in underserved areas. Instead of building tools to enhance luxury, innovators should prioritize tools that address basic human rights, healthcare, education, food security, and climate resilience. This means working with local communities to understand their specific challenges and tailoring AI solutions accordingly.

Thirdly, It’s not enough to deliver AI solutions; communities must be empowered to understand, adapt, and use these technologies. Digital literacy, training programs, and knowledge-sharing initiatives are vital to ensure that individuals and communities can take ownership of AI and use it to improve their lives. Capacity building is about more than technical training—it’s about giving people the power to shape how AI impacts their communities.

Fourthly, Global leaders must work together to create governance structures that prioritize fairness, transparency, and accountability in AI. This means ensuring that AI development doesn’t perpetuate inequality or bias, and it also means creating frameworks that protect the rights of individuals and communities. Policies should be geared towards making AI accessible, promoting equity, and safeguarding against potential misuse.

Fifthly but not finally Developing AI that truly benefits the underserved requires collaboration, between governments, private sector players, civil society, and local communities. Tech companies need to move beyond profit-driven models and consider their role in creating technologies that serve broader human needs. Partnerships that bridge the gap between technical expertise and local knowledge are essential for creating AI that is impactful and equitable.

We are at a pivotal moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence. The choices made today will determine whether AI becomes a tool that widens the gap between rich and poor or one that narrows it. Will AI be an exclusive privilege of those with resources and power, or will it be harnessed to uplift those who are struggling to meet their basic needs?

To truly transform lives, AI must be accessible, affordable, and relevant to all, not just to those in developed nations. This isn’t just a technological challenge; it’s a moral one. If we continue to allow the AI revolution to benefit only those with means, we will entrench inequalities that will be incredibly difficult to dismantle.

The promise of AI is too significant for it to become yet another tool that divides rather than unites. As we look to the future, we must ensure that AI is not just a symbol of human progress, but a real force for positive change—available to everyone, regardless of their background or geography. Only then can we claim that artificial intelligence is truly advancing humanity.