ITU official warns AI access gap could widen global inequality

Tomas Lamanauskas, deputy secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has warned that unequal access to artificial intelligence could create a “fracture of opportunities,” deepening socioeconomic disparities between wealthy and developing nations.

Speaking at the UN Trade and Development World Investment Forum in Doha, Lamanauskas highlighted significant infrastructure deficits. Africa and Latin America currently account for only 3.3% of global data center capacity, while 2.2 billion people worldwide still lack internet access. To bridge the digital infrastructure gap, an estimated $2.8 trillion in investment is required by 2030.

Beyond physical connectivity, disparities exist in AI adoption and governance. Approximately 29% of the working-age population in developed countries uses generative AI tools, compared to 16% in developing regions. Furthermore, UN Trade and Development reports that 118 countries, mostly in the Global South, are absent from major AI governance discussions, leaving them with little influence over the regulation and development of the technology.