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A new United Nations assessment has raised concerns over the growing inequality in the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, pointing to the sharp concentration of AI innovation and investment in the hands of a few. Just 100 companies—mostly based in the United States and China—account for 40 per cent of all private AI research and development funding worldwide. Meanwhile, 118 countries, predominantly from the Global South, are reportedly absent from global AI governance discussions, raising alarms about widening technological gaps.
UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan called for a shift in global focus “from technology to people,” emphasising the need for inclusive governance frameworks that allow all nations to participate meaningfully in the AI revolution. The analysis also warns that up to 40 per cent of global jobs could be affected by AI, with automation posing a particular threat to economies reliant on low-cost labour.
Still, the potential for AI to generate new industries and enhance productivity remains significant—if governments invest in reskilling and adapting their workforces. For developing countries to avoid being left behind, the report outlines three critical leverage points: strengthening infrastructure, ensuring access to quality data, and overhauling education systems to build digital and problem-solving skills.
On the international front, the UN body has proposed a shared global facility to provide equitable access to AI tools and computing resources. It also recommends a public AI disclosure framework, akin to ESG reporting, to improve transparency and accountability. Without deliberate policy action, the report cautions, technological progress risks reinforcing global inequality rather than resolving it.
