Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly altering the economic and social landscape of the Global South, offering both unprecedented opportunities and deepening inequalities. While tech giants promote AI as a tool for progress, critics argue it may exacerbate existing disparities.
The Promise of Progress
From healthcare diagnostics to agricultural optimisation, AI applications are demonstrating transformative potential across developing nations. In Kenya, machine learning helps smallholder farmers predict crop yields, while Indian hospitals use AI-assisted diagnostics to compensate for specialist shortages.
The Digital Divide Widens
However, the AI revolution comes with significant challenges. Most cutting-edge AI development remains concentrated in Western tech hubs, leaving Global South nations dependent on foreign technologies. Local experts express concerns about data colonialism - where valuable data is extracted without fair compensation or local benefit.
Key Concerns:
- Job displacement in traditional sectors
- Bias in algorithms developed for Western contexts
- Lack of local AI governance frameworks
- Environmental costs of energy-intensive AI infrastructure
A Call for Equitable Development
Advocates urge international cooperation to ensure AI benefits are distributed fairly. 'We need Global South voices shaping AI policy, not just consuming finished products,' says Nairobi-based tech analyst Wambui Mwangi. Some nations are taking action - Rwanda recently launched Africa's first national AI policy, focusing on local capacity building.
As the AI revolution accelerates, the question remains: will it empower the Global South or deepen technological dependence? The answer may determine the next era of global inequality.
