The Global South Needs Its Own AI Revolution

Talal Abu-Ghazaleh
Historically, the Global North has enjoyed the fruits of the industrial and digital revolutions, while the Global South has been left behind to play the role of the ‘kitchen’ that provides cheap labor and resources. This has left a huge technological divide between these two blocs which is now being seen in our current AI world.
AI firms are concentrated in the Global North which is a key factor in perpetuating this divide. They are investing billions in AI, capturing first-mover advantages and have capacity to attract the best talent, secure huge datasets and monopolize the latest technology to build their AI models. Consequently, the development of AI is skewed towards the interests of the Global North.
To readdress this inequity, AI has to be democratized and the Global South needs its own AI revolution. The concept of the open-source AI models might be a solution, which makes this vital technology available to more people. This may help to reduce the gap as countries there will have a better chance to engage in the new AI economy.
However, overcoming this disparity is not without its complications. Inadequate infrastructure, low quality education and a lack of funding for research and development are some of the many constraints they face. Having been Chairman of the UNGAID, and the founder of many training and educational institutes, I see that these challenges can be met by investing in education, including making coding and AI literacy compulsory to inspire young minds. This generation needs a strong STEM foundation (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), just as China is doing, to equip the youth with footing needed to build a strong AI future.
Strong and robust digital infrastructure to support innovation in AI is crucial and this requires enhancing internet access, building powerful data centers and supporting the development of local and national tech hubs in these nations.
AI policy frameworks that support innovation, data sovereignty, and the responsible use of AI are also important, including multi-stakeholder collaboration between the public and private sectors to create a conducive environment for the growth of AI.

This new digital divide must not be allowed to widen and cannot be closed without the help of the global community, which includes organizations, tech companies, and developed countries that support AI development in the Global South, through resources, funding, and expertise. This involves encouraging grassroots innovation, community-based projects and innovative start-ups, in order to develop solutions that are relevant to local issues and promote a culture of innovation.
It is crucial to empower the Global South to shape a fairer global AI technological order. The youth in such nations are digitally native and can be instrumental in shaping the future of AI and make the Global South an active participant in this new AI driven world.