Constraint to Capability: Flipping the Narrative on AI in the Global South

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the global economy, but its benefits are deeply uneven. While AI could generate $15.7 trillion in value by 2030, much of this will remain concentrated in wealthier countries, widening inequality and creating new risks for global stability, security, and sovereignty.

Yet the Global South holds powerful advantages: a young, digitally native population and the ability to build ethical, adaptive AI systems from the ground up. With strategic investment in skills, infrastructure, and governance, AI can become a driver of inclusive development improving education, agriculture, and public services while enabling countries to leapfrog outdated systems.

The world also stands to gain. Greater Global South participation brings diverse perspectives, languages, and data that make AI systems more fair, representative, and robust. Supporting this shift is not charity but a strategic investment in global resilience and innovation.

The window to shape an equitable AI future is narrow but open. With deliberate action and international cooperation, AI can advance shared prosperity rather than deepen global divides.