Opinion | How world can ensure AI revolution doesn’t worsen inequality

Fears over AI fuelling inequality are well-founded, but the technology can be a force for good with proactive governance and global cooperation

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Published: 5:30am, 8 Jan 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to be a transformative force, reshaping industries, economies and societies while acting as a harbinger of revolutionary change. However, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres cautioned the UN Security Council in a recent address that this technological revolution carries a double-edged promise: while it has the potential to drive progress, it also risks deepening existing inequality.

His urgent call that “we must never allow AI to stand for advancing inequality” is not just valid, it demands immediate global action. The critical question is how the international community can harness AI’s potential responsibly while safeguarding against its pitfalls.

AI advocates emphasise its potential to solve global challenges, from addressing food insecurity to predicting climate change-induced displacements. However, this optimism is tempered by the rapid speed of AI’s development, which can outpace the frameworks necessary for its governance.

As Guterres highlighted, AI’s deployment in autonomous weapons, border surveillance and predictive policing raises profound ethical and legal questions. Beyond these immediate concerns, AI’s integration into economic systems is reshaping labour markets and deepening existing divides between the global North and South.

In developed economies, AI promises economic growth and productivity gains. McKinsey’s assessments suggest AI could contribute US$4.4 trillion annually to the global economy, yet these benefits are not equitably distributed.

Developed regions and countries are in position to capture the lion’s share of gains, leaving the Global South scrambling to catch up. This is a worrying indicator of what could happen if AI remains unchecked. Likewise, PwC predicts that Africa, Oceania and less-developed parts of Asia – regions already facing significant development challenges – will see only minimal economic returns from AI.