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Barriers to AI for All
With the advancement of Artificial Intelligence and with the significance that it has and will have in the future in people's everyday lives, it is important to keep in mind how accessible it is to different groups of people. The sad reality is that AI is mostly accessible to people who are more economically and technologically advanced. The US and China control most of the world’s most advanced AI models, which creates this problem of a digital divide between people in different social classes and different parts of the world. Communities outside of the US and China have more trouble getting access to AI because of limited access to high-speed internet and resources. As a community with more power and resources, it is essential we find ways to help reduce this digital divide around the world. We need to do this to help give communities equal access and opportunity to this tool that will be prevalent in everyone's lives in the future.
Understanding the Digital Divide
To start coming up with solutions to this problem, we need to understand all the different issues involving this topic. There are two different main barriers that exist with this problem of the digital divide. The barrier between the higher resourced people and the lower resourced people, and the barrier between people outside of the US and China, and the people living in the US and China. The most prevalent issue involving the digital divide is the accessibility to that technology.
In general, lower-resourced people and people outside of the US and China have less access to AI, and higher-resourced people and people in the US or China have more access to it, which can pose a major ethical concern. Another major issue involving this digital divide is how informed different groups are on AI and how informed they are on how to use it in an optimized and innovative way. In a study done by the UNDP, it was shown that lower-resourced people and people outside of the US and China, mostly in the southern hemisphere and specifically Latin America and the Caribbean, have less experience and understanding of how AI works. This can affect how useful AI is in the ways that it is used and how it can be used to produce money in different places.
Local Solutions to a Global Challenge
There is no simple or fast solution to solving this problem, but we can always try to implement ideas or facilities that could help with these problems in our communities and encourage other people to do the same. One thing that we could encourage our local city governments to do is implement free high-speed internet and computers with access to AI in public, accessible facilities. Advertising AI is just as important as implementing the resources, so that lower-resourced people are more inclined to go and use it in these public places for free. This would help reduce the digital divide. At the same public libraries, there could be free classes directed by professionals on AI to spread awareness and knowledge on AI to optimize its usage among users and educate people with less access to money and information on AI. Solving this issue of the digital divide gets more complicated when we have to try and fix it outside of our communities and outside of the US.
Global Responsibility and Policy Change
The most impactful thing that the US government or other more economically advanced countries could do to help the digital divide is to try to normalize access to the internet in countries with less economic power and technological advancement. Another thing that we could do is raise awareness and speak out against the US government limiting global access to AI knowledge and tools. By restricting the flow of information and critical technology, the U.S. deepens the digital divide, especially in countries already struggling with limited access. If the government made AI research findings and essential hardware more accessible worldwide, it would help close the knowledge gap and allow more nations to contribute to and benefit from the future of AI.
Why Inclusive AI Matters
Everyone having equal access to AI is very important so that this technology can advance in an unbiased and progressive way. If only two main groups have most of the control of AI, this could cause a lack of views and perspectives when making and using machine learning to teach AI. This could lead to a major problem of bias in AI, which could lead to very harmful outputs if not fixed properly. Machine learning and databases are the most important factors of how AI functions. If these databases lack perspectives or are only managed by certain groups of people, it could lead to bias in what the AI outputs to people using this software, and the outputs that the AI produces could be harmful to certain groups of people.
AI as a Tool for All
Apart from the fact that having multiple perspectives is important to reduce bias in machine learning, giving access to AI is important because everyone deserves to be able to use this tool to its full potential despite what economic position they might be in. AI is becoming a revolutionary tool around the world and is becoming more and more normalized in our day-to-day lives, so it is essential to be familiar with it. No one deserves to be left behind or denied access to the tools and knowledge that shape our future. That’s why expanding access to AI is urgent
In Conclusion: A More Equitable AI Future
In conclusion, the digital divide in AI and technology is one of the most urgent challenges we face. It’s not just a question of fairness and equal opportunity, but it limits our collective progress. AI is a revolutionary tool that has the power to improve lives, solve problems, and spark new ideas. But only if everyone has a seat at the table.
That’s why we must act now to close this gap. By working together to expand access, share knowledge, and demand inclusion, we can build a future where AI serves all of humanity.
Closing Note:
This blog is part of #OwnTheAlgorithm, iFp’s Emerging Innovators campaign to rethink how AI is built—and who it’s built for. We invite young people and the communities they’re part of to question AI systems, claim their role in its development, and build a future where AI reflects our values, not just profit.
Question it. Own it. Build it.
Bibliography:
“AI equity: Ensuring access to AI for all”, Gates Foundation, Accessed: January 28, 2025. https://www.gatesfoundation.org/ideas/science-innovation-technology/artificial-intelligence
“Can you teach AI without access to AI?”, Women in AI Ethics, Accessed: January 28, 2025, https://womeninaiethics.org/can-you-teach-ai-without-access-to-digital-technology%F0%9F%A4%94/
“Accessibility Powered by AI: How Artificial Intelligence Can Help Universalize Access to Digital Content”, The Scholarly Kitchen, Accessed: January 28, 2025,
“Artificial Intelligence as the Reason and the Solution of Digital Divide”, LEJ Journal, Accessed: January 28, 2025, https://langedutech.com/letjournal/index.php/let/article/view/53/42
“The ‘AI divide’ between the Global North and the Global South”, World Economic Forum, Accessed: January 29, 2025,
“The AI Revolution is Here: How Will Latin America and the Caribbean Respond?”, UNDP, Accessed: January 29, 2025,
“Artificial Intelligence and Inequality: Challenges and Opportunities”, Qeios, Accessed: January 29, 2025, https://radensa.ru/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Artificial_Intelligence_and_Inequality_Challenges_.pdf
“Unequal Access to AI and Its Cultural Implications”, Medium, Accessed: January 29, 2025, https://medium.com/the-modern-scientist/unequal-access-to-ai-and-its-cultural-implications-0948a8042c91.
Why AI? with iFp Innovators
Our Voices of 2 Blocks podcast enjoyed an incredible three-season run, building a dedicated following. The co-hosts became known for their captivating interviews and thought-provoking insights. Now, we’re thrilled to see the next generation of iFp leaders stepping up and putting their unique spin on a fresh podcast: Why AI? with iFp Innovators.
Why AI? isn’t just another tech podcast—it uncovers the good, the bad, and the unseeable. From the ways AI is already shaping our daily lives to the ethical dilemmas defining tomorrow, this podcast dives deep into what AI really means for all of us—with a fresh perspective only Gen Z can bring.
Support these inspiring young innovators and subscribe to Why AI? with iFp Innovators, available now on your favorite podcast platforms!
https://innovatorsforpurpose.org/whyai
Do Black Faces Not Count As Faces?
This summer we launched a campaign called “How Do We Become the We?” inspired by a Ted Talk that posed a critical question,“What kind of AI do we want to build or allow to be built? We must choose what AIs we bring into the world, or not.”
As the presenter repeatedly used the word “we,” we asked our students, Are we part of the ‘we’ being referenced? The consensus was clear - they didn’t think so. Yet, we all agreed on one truth: that certain problems will never be solved unless those most impacted are at the center of creating the solutions. That’s why it critical that we become the “we.”
One of the most powerful creations to emerge from this exploration is Black Faces, a moving spoken word that was named the winner of Dr. Joy Buolamwini’s Algorithmic Justice League Cypher Competition. Dr. Joy, best-selling author of Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What is Human in a World of Machines, has long inspired our work.
We invite you to watch their video above and witness the power of Black Faces—a bold reminder of why we must work to redefine who gets to shape the future of AI.
Credits:
Writing and Performance by iFp Innovators Liya, Soley, and Meron
Images in collaboration with Mid Journey
A Night with Dr. Joy Buolamwini
At precisely 7:00 pm, amidst the hallowed halls of the Museum of Sciences, I stepped into an auditorium crackling with anticipation. Here, within the convergence of technology and the essence of humanity, the Museum of Science’s Cahners Theater was set for Dr. Joy Buolamwini's book tour, "Unmasking AI: Preserving What's Human in a World of Technology." Her name reached my ears nearly three years ago, introduced by iFp when exploring her remarkable strides in algorithmic justice and AI bias. Her name had since become a constant in our group discussions, and the prospect of finally witnessing her discourse was nothing short of exhilarating.
Dr. Joy has been a personal inspiration to me. Her unique talent for seamlessly integrating poetry with science, had a far-reaching impact than if I were to peruse scientific papers on AI bias. During her talk, her words weren't merely spoken; they were artfully crafted leaving everyone who encountered them with a sense of wonder. Highlighting the beauty and accessibility one can create with the intersection between art and science.
Among the myriad topics unveiled during this talk, one particular theme lingered persistently well beyond the event's conclusion—Dr. Joy’s perspective on challenging conventional/technical solutions to real-world problems. Dr. Joy's exploration into AI Bias began inadvertently during her PhD at the MIT Media Lab. She enrolled in the course “Science Fabrication” at MIT, leading to the creation of an "Aspire Mirror" inspired by the children's book "Anansi the Spider." This project, utilizing facial recognition software, encountered a startling obstacle: it failed to detect her face.
The mirror, designed to project inspiring images onto the face of the viewer, worked seamlessly when she wore a white mask. However, when she presented her own African-American face, the image failed to register. Initially, Dr. Joy sought to rectify this by considering the creation of inclusive data sets as a solution. As she assessed their performance against the biased ones, she paused to contemplate the potential harm and misuse that such datasets might entail. This decision ensured that technological advancements, especially in AI, serve to alleviate societal disparities rather than exacerbate them. And at times, the resolution to a problem doesn't have to involve a "technical" solution.
Dr. Joy’s talk was nothing short of visionary, and her work has shown us that science should not exist within an isolated realm of technicality but should embrace an open and welcoming approach, such that it is by and for the people, rather than detached entities operating in isolation. Overall, it serves as a reminder that the future of AI must be guided by our commitment to preserving what's inherently human.