UN Official Warns AI's Opportunity Divide Could Widen Global Inequality

Tomas Lamanauskas, deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), warned that unequal AI access could deepen economic and social disparities between wealthy and poorer countries. The ITU is the UN agency responsible for information and communication technologies. Lamanauskas spoke on Sunday at the UN Conference on Trade and Development World Investment Forum in Doha, Qatar. Lamanauskas said developing countries encounter substantial obstacles to benefiting from AI. Lamanauskas said AI could improve healthcare, education, public services, industry, agriculture and trade, making unequal access a divide in opportunities.

Lamanauskas said Africa and Latin America together hold only 3.3% of worldwide data centre capacity, illustrating disparities in digital infrastructure. Lamanauskas said 2.2 billion people around the world still lack internet access. Lamanauskas estimated that closing the digital infrastructure gap would require $2.8 trillion in investment by 2030. Lamanauskas said approximately 29% of working-age people in developed countries use generative AI, compared with 16% in developing countries. Lamanauskas said unequal adoption affects productivity and access to employment opportunities.

The UN Development Programme warned in a December 2025 report that AI could intensify inequality among countries and undo decades of progress in reducing economic disparities. The programme warned that unreliable electricity, inadequate connectivity and shortages of technological skills could prevent countries from capturing AI's economic benefits.

Lamanauskas acknowledged increasing anxiety about AI-related job losses and cited estimates that AI could eliminate 90 million jobs while generating 170 million new jobs. However, Lamanauskas warned that an overall gain would not prevent disruption for many individuals. Lamanauskas cited an estimate that 40% of workplace skills could change by 2030. Lamanauskas said AI translation tools cover only 7% of African languages, restricting access for millions of potential users.

The 2026 International AI Safety Report, published in February, said around one billion people use AI for tasks including medical guidance and writing. The report estimated that AI-related changes could affect about 60% of jobs in advanced economies and 40% in emerging economies, although concrete data are unavailable.

Fazl Barez, a senior University of Oxford researcher focused on AI safety and governance, said concerns about AI were justified. However, Barez stressed the difference between automating individual tasks and eliminating whole jobs. Barez said occupations involving routine cognitive tasks face particular exposure, although the scale of potential job losses remains uncertain. Barez warned that AI automation threatens government tax revenues, living standards and citizens' power.

Lamanauskas said stopping AI or halting the technology's rapid development was not a realistic possibility. Lamanauskas said AI would remain and change people's lives. Lamanauskas said 104 countries now have AI strategies, compared with four a decade ago. Lamanauskas said no single individual, organisation or company can control AI. Lamanauskas urged greater investment in digital infrastructure, education and regulation to enable developing countries to help shape AI. Lamanauskas called for investment that benefits everyone while acknowledging public fears and anxiety.