AI could increase divide between rich and poor states, UN report warns

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The report by the United Nations Development Programme warns of a possible 'great divergence' emerging between nations in terms of economic performance, people's skill sets and governing systems

GENEVA, Switzerland – Artificial Intelligence could widen gaps between developed and developing countries, a UN report said on Tuesday, December 2, calling for policy measures to limit the impact.

The report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns of a possible “great divergence” emerging between nations in terms of economic performance, people’s skill sets and governing systems.

“We think that AI is heralding a new era of rising inequality between countries, following years of convergence in the last 50 years,” Philip Schellekens, Chief Economist for UNDP Asia Pacific Regional Bureau told a Geneva press briefing.

The UNDP report ‘The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries’ says that trade, technology and development have helped close gaps between states in recent decades, bringing major income, health and education gains.

These gains now risk being eroded, it says.

Ultimately, even wealthier countries would suffer if poorer states are left behind by AI, said Schellekens.

“If inequality continues to rise, the spillover effects of that in terms of the security agenda, in terms of undocumented forms of migration, will also become more daunting,” he said. – Rappler.com