Officials from the International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warned on Thursday that artificial intelligence could widen the gap between developed and developing countries if digital infrastructure and necessary skills are not available to leverage it, despite its potential to support economic growth and boost productivity.
The IMF stated in a statement cited by Reuters that AI could add approximately 0.5 percentage points to global growth in the medium term, while the OECD expects it to raise productivity in member countries by between 0.4% and 1.2% annually.
Challenges for developing countries
In the same context, low-income countries and small businesses face challenges in adopting these technologies due to limited resources and infrastructure, which may exacerbate disparities in growth and productivity levels.
The IMF also warned that about 40% of jobs globally could be affected by AI, particularly entry-level positions, emphasizing the importance of investing in training and skills development to ensure broader benefits from the digital transformation.
Rapid expansion
AI is experiencing rapid expansion across various economic sectors, driven by massive investments in data centers, electronic chips, and digital infrastructure.
While international institutions agree on the technology's ability to enhance growth and productivity, concerns are growing about the widening gap between advanced and developing economies, given disparities in digital readiness and technical skills.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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