Addressing the good, bad and ugly of AI

Even at this nascent stage, artificial intelligence is displaying its abilities to transform our lives and the world. Some countries are already experiencing its profound impacts.

In hospitals, AI has already become a lifesaver, by helping doctors with diagnosis and treatment recommendations. In schools, AI-powered personalized learning tools are tailoring learning experiences to individual needs and interests, making learning much easier and more relevant for students. In factories, AI is markedly boosting productivity by automating tasks and optimizing processes. A recent report by Goldman Sachs suggests that generative AI could raise global GDP by 7 percent.

Yet one-third of the world's population still doesn't have access to the internet. Despite the coming Age of AI, most countries, especially developing ones, have yet to truly access, use and benefit from the technology, and the global digital divide continues to widen rapidly. It is an undeniable fact that AI gains are now being reaped only by wealthy countries and major tech companies, with almost all developing countries left behind.