A new UN report warns of widening gaps between countries due to artificial intelligence
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| An AI-generated image of the United Nations logo and the term artificial intelligence. |
A United Nations report released Tuesday warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could widen the gap between developed and developing countries, calling for policy measures to mitigate its impact.
The report, published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), cautioned that a "significant divergence" between countries is likely in terms of economic performance, skills, and governance.
"We believe that AI is ushering in a new era of increased inequality between countries, after years of convergence over the past 50 years," said Philippe Schilkins, chief economist at the UNDP's Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau, at a press conference in Geneva, according to Reuters.
The UNDP report, titled "The Coming Great Divergence: Why AI Could Increase Inequality Between Countries," notes that trade, technology, and development have helped close the gap between countries in recent decades, resulting in significant gains in income, health, and education.
The report warns that these gains are now at risk of being eroded.
Shilkins said that ultimately, even the wealthiest countries will suffer if poorer countries are left behind by AI.
He added: "If inequality continues to increase, the indirect effects of this on the security agenda, and with regard to forms of undocumented migration, will become more severe."
