Digital Divide

The UN is concerned about artificial intelligence. In 2024, a large fraction of the world's population still lacks internet access. The UN warns that these people won't get to enjoy the benefits of AI.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin is the chief of the UN telecoms agency. On Thursday, she told reporters that she's worried because people who can't connect to the internet are missing out on the advantages of artificial intelligence.

2.6 billion in the world don’t have access to the internet. The areas most affected include Africa, South America, and the Middle East.

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Digital Inequality: The Biggest Challenge Today

Doreen Bogdan-Martin said this is a big problem because if you're not part of the digital world, you won't be part of the AI world. She stressed that this is one of our most significant challenges today.

The UN is trying to collect $100 billion by 2026 to help more people access digital technology. But, according to Bogdan-Martin, more money, about four times that amount, is needed to bridge the gap and include everyone.

She pointed out that as AI technology grows, the gap between those who can use it and those who can't will become even more noticeable.

AI can do amazing things, like helping fight climate change and improving education and healthcare. But she also warned that there are risks the world needs to be careful about.

Bogdan-Martin emphasized that AI could create problems in elections and jobs. She also highlighted a big issue: popular AI tools show bias against women.

A study found that algorithms from companies like OpenAI and Meta are unfair to women. Bogdan-Martin, the first woman to lead the UN telecoms agency, explained that not enough women are connected to the internet or working in technology.

In her view, “we need more women in AI, STEM, and other important fields. That way, when it comes to making decisions about data and algorithms, more women can contribute.”

AI Job Losses

Experts struggle to figure out how many jobs AI is replacing. Since last May, US companies cut more than 4,600 jobs to hire people with AI skills or because AI does the work. But that number is likely low, says Andrew Challenger, a senior executive.

Companies don't like the attention, so they avoid announcing job cuts due to AI. IBM made headlines when it said it might stop hiring for jobs AI could do. But IBM denies freezing hiring.

Others, like the Society for Human Resource Management CEO Johnny Taylor, think companies will quietly reduce jobs without announcing it.

Most job cuts due to AI are in the tech industry. Companies like Chegg and Stack Overflow cut staff because AI hurt their business. Dropbox is also changing, hiring new staff with AI skills and letting go of others.

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“Monkey Jobs” With Expensive Degrees

Only a few companies, like IBM, openly link AI to job cuts. In areas like advertising, where many women work, agencies are using AI for entire campaigns, leading to layoffs. Even online copywriters have been replaced by ChatGPT.

Some in the tech world call jobs that AI can replace "monkey jobs," despite professionals investing time and money in education. Advertising schools charge $35,000 to $90,000 for degree courses in these fields. AI doesn't refund that money, highlighting the ongoing struggle for equality and inclusivity.