We need to act with urgency to address the growing AI divide (blogs.microsoft.com)

At the India AI Impact Summit, Microsoft announced its commitment to invest $50 billion by the end of the decade to reduce the significant AI adoption gap between the Global North and Global South. According to Microsoft's AI Diffusion Report, AI usage is roughly twice as high in the Global North, exacerbating economic disparities and undermining the potential of AI to expand opportunities globally. The initiative focuses on five strategic pillars, including building necessary infrastructure, empowering communities through technology and skills, and enhancing multilingual AI capabilities to ensure more inclusive AI systems. This ambitious investment is particularly crucial as it aims not just to address immediate infrastructure needs—like reliable electricity and internet access—but also to empower local populations through targeted educational programs, such as Microsoft Elevate, which aims to equip millions with AI skills by 2030. Additionally, initiatives like LINGUA Africa will enhance AI performance for underrepresented languages, making technology more accessible and relevant to diverse communities. By emphasizing local innovations, Microsoft intends to foster sustainable economic growth across the Global South, ultimately closing the AI divide and creating pathways for meaningful impact in areas like food security, health, and education.