A United Nations report has cautioned that artificial intelligence (AI) could exacerbate gaps between developed and developing nations, calling for urgent policy measures to mitigate its impact.

The report, released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Tuesday, warns of a potential “great divergence” in economic performance, skills, and governance systems across countries.

“We think that AI is heralding a new era of rising inequality between countries, following years of convergence in the last 50 years,” said Philip Schellekens, Chief Economist for UNDP’s Asia Pacific Regional Bureau, during a press briefing in Geneva.

Titled The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries, the report notes that trade, technology, and development have helped narrow global gaps in income, health, and education in recent decades. However, these gains now risk being eroded as AI adoption accelerates, potentially leaving poorer nations behind.

Schellekens stressed that the consequences could extend beyond economics. “If inequality continues to rise, the spillover effects in terms of security, and undocumented forms of migration, will also become more daunting,” he said, highlighting the broad societal risks of uneven AI integration.

The UNDP urges governments and international organisations to implement policies that ensure AI benefits are shared equitably and that vulnerable countries are supported in developing skills, governance structures, and infrastructure to keep pace with technological change.

Melissa Enoch

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