AI could deepen global inequality without joint rules, UN warns

The United Nations is sounding the alarm that artificial intelligence could widen the gap between rich and poor nations if countries do not collaborate on global rules. This warning comes as governments, tech companies, and experts convene in Geneva for the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance.

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The AI divide is real.

The rapid pace of AI development is outpacing regulatory efforts, sparking fears that developing nations could be marginalized while a few countries dominate the technology. "The AI divide is real," stated Ambassador Egriselda López of El Salvador, co-chair of the dialogue. She pointed out that while some nations possess advanced infrastructure and research capabilities, many others still struggle with basic connectivity, limiting their ability to leverage AI.

Ambassador Rein Tammsaar of Estonia, the dialogue's other co-chair, acknowledged AI's potential as a "great equalizer" for boosting productivity, economic growth, healthcare, and scientific innovation. However, he cautioned that without inclusive governance, countries with limited AI access risk falling further behind. "The frontier developers are basically concentrated in two countries," Tammsaar noted, referring to the United States and China, leaving many nations with unanswered questions.

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The frontier developers are basically concentrated in two countries.

Discussions in Geneva are informed by the first report from the UN's Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence. This 40-member expert body warns that while AI offers immense potential to improve lives, governments currently lack the necessary national and international tools to manage its risks. Yoshua Bengio, co-chair of the scientific panel, observed that AI is nearing or exceeding human capabilities in many areas, evolving faster than scientific understanding and regulatory frameworks. "We don’t have the right national or even international governance tools, and we don’t have good ways to steer the benefits so that they are shared by everyone," Bengio said.

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We don’t have the right national or even international governance tools, and we don’t have good ways to steer the benefits so that they are shared by everyone.