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AI Use Surges Globally, But Rich-Poor Divide Widens, Microsoft Report Finds
🇯🇲 Jamaica /Technology

AI Use Surges Globally, But Rich-Poor Divide Widens, Microsoft Report Finds

From Jamaica Observer · (7h ago) English Critical tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Generative AI is used by 17.8% of the global working-age population, but a significant gap persists between wealthy and developing nations.
  • Developed countries saw 27.5% AI usage, compared to 15.4% in developing nations, a gap that widened by 1.5 percentage points.
  • Factors contributing to the divide include unequal access to internet, digital skills, electricity, and AI model performance, which is historically stronger in English.

A new report from Microsoft highlights a growing disparity in the adoption of generative artificial intelligence (AI) across the globe. While AI tools are increasingly being utilized by the working-age population worldwide, the benefits are not being shared equally. Developed nations are embracing AI at a much higher rate than their developing counterparts, widening an already significant digital divide.

Generative artificial intelligence is being used by 17.8 per cent of the world’s working-age population, but the gap between wealthy and developing nations continues to widen, according to a report published Tuesday by Microsoft.

— Microsoft AI Economy InstituteThis quote summarizes the core finding of the report regarding global AI usage and the widening economic divide.

The report estimates that 27.5% of individuals aged 15-64 in developed countries are using generative AI, a stark contrast to the 15.4% in developing nations. This gap has actually widened in recent months, indicating a trend that could further marginalize poorer countries in the global economy. The reasons cited for this divide are multifaceted, including disparities in internet connectivity, basic digital literacy, and access to reliable electricity.

The divide stems from significant inequality in access to internet connectivity, basic digital skills and electricity, according to the Microsoft AI Economy Institute.

— Microsoft AI Economy InstituteThis quote explains the primary reasons behind the observed gap in AI adoption between developed and developing nations.

Furthermore, the dominance of English in AI development, with most major AI companies based in the US, has historically created a barrier for non-English-speaking countries. While progress is being made in natural language processing for other languages, this linguistic advantage continues to play a role in the uneven spread of AI tools. This situation is particularly concerning given the potential of AI to revolutionize various sectors, from education to healthcare and economic development. The challenge now is to ensure that the benefits of AI are accessible to all, not just a privileged few.

AI model performance — historically stronger in English as most of the major AI companies are based in the US — is also slowing the spread of such tools in non-English-speaking countries.

— Microsoft AI Economy InstituteThis quote highlights the linguistic barrier and the geographical concentration of AI development as contributing factors to the global divide.
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Originally published by Jamaica Observer in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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