How our choices now determine whether AI deepens or improves inequality

The digital divide persists: Despite rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and technology, billions of people worldwide still lack access to basic necessities and digital resources, highlighting the stark global inequalities in living conditions and technological access.

• As of 2023, an estimated 2.7 billion people remain offline, while over 3.5 billion lack reliable electricity, according to the International Telecommunication Union.
• One in three individuals is unable to afford a healthy diet, and one in two lacks access to basic sanitation, as reported in the 2023 Human Development Report.
• These statistics underscore the gap between technological progress in wealthier nations and the barriers preventing billions from participating in the digital economy and its opportunities.

The root of the problem: Systemic inequalities, rather than a lack of resources, are the primary drivers of both digital and material poverty, impeding progress on multiple fronts.

• The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals aim to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030, but this target remains far from being achieved.
• Billions of people still live on less than $30 per day, a figure well above the World Bank’s extreme poverty line of $2.15 per day but still insufficient for a life of dignity and opportunity.
• Access to basic necessities like food, clean water, sanitation, and reliable energy remains a daily struggle for many, even as AI-driven innovation advances rapidly in other parts of the world.

Electricity: A crucial stepping stone: Access to reliable electricity is fundamental for digital inclusion and serves as a foundation for broader economic and social development.

• Mission 300, a $30 billion initiative led by the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and partners like the Rockefeller Foundation, aims to bring electricity to 300 million people in Africa by 2030.
• This effort has the potential to create jobs, foster educational opportunities, and lay the groundwork for sustainable economic growth.
• Reliable electricity is essential for establishing the infrastructure needed to support digital tools and platforms, connecting populations to the digital world.

The promise of Prosocial AI: Artificial intelligence designed with the intent to benefit individuals and society as a whole holds significant potential for addressing both digital and material poverty.

• AI-driven tools in agriculture, business coaching, telemedicine, and education could significantly reduce the burdens of poverty in underserved communities.
• However, the positive outcomes of AI are not guaranteed and depend on how it is developed and implemented.
• The choices made by individuals, institutions, and organizations across all sectors will determine whether AI deepens inequality or serves as a force for good.

The INCLUDE framework: This practical approach offers a guide for individuals and organizations to address the hybrid divide between digital and material poverty.

• Identify: Acknowledge personal privileges and reflect on how they shape access to opportunities.
• Network: Connect with underrepresented groups and include them in technology-related decisions.
• Collaborate: Partner with like-minded individuals to maximize the impact of skills, ideas, and resources.
• Leverage: Use influence to advocate for inclusive digital policies and equitable technology access.
• Understand: Study how digital poverty exacerbates existing social inequities, particularly for marginalized groups.
• Distribute: Ensure the equitable distribution of AI and digital technology benefits, supporting Prosocial AI initiatives.
• Empower: Promote double literacy and provide tools for others to identify and share their skills.

Bridging the divide: Addressing both digital and material poverty requires a multifaceted approach that goes beyond technological solutions alone.

• Efforts to expand access to electricity, like Mission 300, demonstrate the potential for targeted initiatives to create a foundation for broader development.
• The INCLUDE framework provides a roadmap for individuals and organizations to contribute to creating a more equitable digital landscape.
• Ultimately, the shift towards a more equitable world begins with everyday choices and actions that prioritize inclusivity and sustainability.

Looking ahead: The role of collective action: The transition from digital poverty to analog abundance depends on concerted efforts from all sectors of society to ensure that technological progress benefits everyone, not just the privileged few.

• By adopting principles that prioritize inclusivity and sustainability in daily actions and decisions, individuals and organizations can help shift the narrative around digital and material poverty.
• The future of AI and technological development hinges on whether it will be harnessed as a tool for deepening inequality or as a means of empowering marginalized communities and bridging global divides.