The United Nations’ information and communications technology (ICT) agency has issued a formal warning regarding the potential for artificial intelligence to widen the gap between developed and developing nations. According to the deputy secretary-general of the agency, the current trajectory of AI development risks creating an 'opportunity divide' that could leave poorer countries at a significant disadvantage in the global economy.

As AI technologies become increasingly integrated into industrial and administrative sectors, the ability to access, implement, and regulate these tools is becoming a critical factor in national development. The UN official suggests that without concerted efforts to ensure equitable access to AI infrastructure and training, the technology may serve to concentrate wealth and innovation in a small number of technologically advanced nations. This perspective emphasizes that the digital divide, which has historically hindered economic growth in the Global South, is now being replicated and potentially amplified by the rapid pace of AI innovation. While the report focuses on the risks of exclusion, it underscores that the current distribution of AI resources is not yet balanced, creating a scenario where the benefits of automation and machine learning are disproportionately captured by those who already possess the necessary technical and financial capital.