UN official warns AI could ‘deepen’ global inequality

At the 9th World Investment Forum in Doha, Qatar, senior UN official Tomas Lamanauskas warned that unequal access to AI technology risks significantly deepening global inequality. Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, Lamanauskas, who is the deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a UN agency focused on information and communication technologies, highlighted that developing countries face significant barriers in benefiting from the AI revolution. He emphasized that the "AI divide" could exacerbate existing social and economic inequalities, as it extends beyond just digital access to encompass numerous sectors such as health, education, public services, industries, agriculture, and trade.