Artificial intelligence (AI) could widen the gap between developed and developing countries, a United Nations report said on Tuesday, calling for policies to limit such impact.
A report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) warns of the possibility of a new "major divergence" among countries when it comes to economic performance, population skills and governance systems, Reuters reports.
"We believe that AI heralds a new era of growing inequalities between countries, after decades of convergence over the last 50 years," said Philippe Schellekens, chief economist at the UNDP Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, at a press briefing in Geneva.
The UNDP report, titled "The Next Great Divergence: Why AI Could Deepen Inequality Between Countries," states that trade, technology, and development in recent decades have helped reduce disparities between countries, bringing significant gains in income, health, and education.
There is now a risk that these gains will be eroded, the document adds.
Ultimately, says Schelekens, even wealthier countries could suffer if poorer countries lag behind in AI development.
"If inequality continues to deepen, the consequences in terms of the security agenda, as well as irregular forms of migration, will become even more serious," he said.
Bonus video:
