As artificial intelligence accelerates into the mainstream, a stark warning from the United Nations emerges: the technology could exacerbate inequality across the Asia-Pacific region, putting millions of jobs at risk while benefiting only a handful of wealthy nations.
According to a new report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), titled The Next Great Divergence, AI’s rapid adoption in advanced economies is leaving poorer countries scrambling, lacking essential digital infrastructure, skills, and governance to keep pace.
The report paints a picture reminiscent of the 19th-century Industrial Revolution, where technological leaps created vast wealth gaps. Today, AI could do the same, with women and young workers facing the highest exposure to automation.
In South Asia, entry-level jobs are particularly vulnerable, while nations like China, Singapore, and South Korea—leaders in AI investment—reap substantial rewards. China alone holds nearly 70% of global AI patents, and the region boasts over 3,100 newly funded AI companies across six countries.
Economically, the stakes are high. AI is forecast to add nearly $1 trillion to Asia’s economy over the next decade, boosting annual GDP growth by up to 2 percentage points and productivity by 5% in sectors such as health and finance.
Yet, this growth is uneven. Poorer nations like Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam are urged to start small, using offline voice-based AI tools for farmers and health workers to bridge the gap.
UN experts highlight broader risks, including job displacement, data exclusion, and environmental strains from AI’s high energy and water demands.
Philip Schellekens, UNDP’s Chief Economist for Asia and the Pacific, cautions: “Countries that invest in skills, computing power and sound governance systems will benefit, others risk being left far behind.”
Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director, adds: “AI is racing ahead, and many countries are still at the starting line. The Asia and Pacific experience highlights how quickly gaps can emerge between those shaping AI and those being shaped by it.”
The report calls for ethical AI deployment, inclusive policies, and international cooperation to protect jobs and ensure equitable benefits.
With Asia-Pacific home to over 55% of the world’s population and more than half of global AI users, the region’s handling of this tech wave could redefine global inequality.
