The United Nations has issued a stark warning that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, if left unmanaged, threatens to dramatically increase inequality between nations. A new report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), released on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, argues that AI could widen existing divides in economic power, human capabilities, and governance systems.
The Risk of a "Great Divergence"
The report, titled "The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries," acknowledges AI's potential to open new avenues for development. However, it stresses that countries are starting this technological transition from highly uneven positions in their ability to capture benefits and manage risks. Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, emphasized at a daily briefing that without strong policy action, these gaps could grow, "reversing the long trend of narrowing development inequalities."
Asia's Dual Reality: Opportunity and Risk
The Asia and Pacific region, home to over 55 percent of the world's population, finds itself at the heart of this transition. It hosts more than half of all global AI users and is rapidly expanding its innovation footprint. The potential economic upside is massive: AI could boost annual GDP growth in the region by around 2 percentage points and raise productivity by up to five percent in key sectors like health and finance. Specifically, ASEAN economies could see nearly US$1 trillion in additional GDP over the next decade.
Yet, this promise is shadowed by significant peril. The report cautions that millions of jobs, particularly those held by women and young people, face a high risk of automation if core principles of ethical and inclusive AI governance are ignored. This threatens to erode the gains of an "era of convergence" where many lower-income countries had been gradually closing the gap with wealthier nations through technology and trade.
The Urgent Call for Governance and Digital Readiness
A critical barrier is the vast disparity in digital readiness across the region. While nations like Singapore, South Korea, and China are making substantial investments in AI infrastructure and skills, others are still struggling to provide foundational digital access and literacy. "Building these digital capabilities will be critical to ensuring that all countries can benefit from the opportunities AI presents," the report states.
Limited infrastructure, skills, computing power, and governance capacity not only constrain AI's benefits but also amplify its risks. These include job displacement, data exclusion, and the indirect environmental impacts of rising global energy and water demands from AI systems. The governance gap is particularly acute: only a limited number of countries have comprehensive AI regulations. The report predicts that by 2027, over 40 percent of global AI-related data breaches may stem from the misuse of generative AI.
Beate Trankmann, UNDP Resident Representative in China, pointed to a path forward: "As a leader in AI, China, in cooperation with other countries, can help to inform discussions on the establishment of global governance mechanisms to ensure that AI is leveraged for good and helps to advance sustainable development." The message is clear: deliberate, inclusive, and robust policy choices are now essential to prevent AI from becoming a force for division rather than shared progress.
