The next poverty trap may be digital - Nik Zirwatul Fatihah
The article explores how unequal access to AI tools could create a new form of digital poverty and exacerbate existing socioeconomic gaps. It argues that without policy intervention, the benefits of AI will disproportionately favor those already equipped with digital skills.
Why it matters
As AI becomes integral to the global economy, the digital divide threatens to entrench inequality between those who can leverage automation and those who cannot.
JULY 22 — Artificial intelligence is often described as the next industrial revolution. However, one question receives far less attention: who will be left behind?
Today, another dimension is beginning to emerge. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into workplaces, schools, and everyday life, a new question is gaining importance. Could access to AI become one of the defining factors shaping future inequality?
Consider two graduates entering the workforce at the same time. Both possess similar qualifications, comparable academic performance, and equivalent levels of motivation.
However, one has learned to use AI tools effectively to improve productivity, analyse information, automate routine tasks, and enhance decision-making. The other has not.
Several years later, the gap between them may be substantial. The difference may not be driven by intelligence, effort, or ambition. Instead, it may stem from unequal access to digital capabilities that are becoming increasingly valuable in the modern economy.
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