WILL THE AI REVOLUTION MAKE TECH INEQUITY WORSE?

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been playing around with AI. Primarily, image generation tools (in my spare time I’m an artist and photographer), but also various writing bots. It’s safe to say I’m hooked, and on the whole, I see the technology as a positive (see AI Content Tools: With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility). But, after trying unsuccessfully to access ChatGPT and YouWrite earlier today (the former is ‘at capacity’ and the latter will only take paying subscribers from the US and Canada), I was struck by a less positive thought. Will AI, or rather access to it, significantly widen the opportunity and wealth gap?

You see, although I’m sure my access issues will be temporary, it got me thinking about the wider issue of technological access, and who AI may exacerbate this. For, while access to AI tools certainly has the potential to massively boost productivity, and will give opportunities for advancement to many, there’s a danger of leaving much of the world behind. Even in developed countries.

The tech access crisis hidden in plain sight

There's already a growing problem of youngsters, even in rich countries, falling behind because they don’t have basic technology like up-to-date laptops. Sounds crazy? It’s not. I live in Malta, where my partner is a lecturer at a local state-run college. Now, according to Worlddata.info, in 2021, Malta was the 28th richest country in the world in terms of purchasing power per inhabitant, with a GDP of US$33,487 per capita. But, she still has to try and organise laptop donations because some students can’t afford them. And, with the rocketing cost of living, this problem is rapidly getting worse, not better.

The same issue is affecting the United Kingdom (which had a GDP per capita of over $47,000 in 2022). The school my niece attended had to fundraise to get poorer kids laptops, and that was several years ago - again, with rising living costs and falling real wages, the problem is worsening. And, that wasn’t even a school in a particularly deprived area - I can only guess how bad the issues are in areas where much of the population is using food banks and can’t afford to use their heating! If in 2023, many students, even in ‘rich’ developed countries, still don’t have reliable access to the internet, then I can only assume the problem elsewhere in the world is dire.

AI will be a game-changer, for those who can access it

For the past couple of decades, we’ve already seen how ready access to ever-faster internet has increased opportunities and productivity for those who have it. Thanks to my partner, I’ve seen first-hand how disadvantaged poor students are. So, with AI now poised to supercharge productivity, will those without access to it get left even further behind? As things stand, they will be.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that AI tools will necessarily allow developed countries to become even more economically dominant (although, I’m not saying they won’t either), because I know the technology is mostly open-source. That’s great. Businesses and organisations all around the world should be able to harness the potential of AI. My fear is more that, within all nations, those already struggling and getting left out of the tech world, will just fall even further behind as AI accelerates the pace of change.

For example, imagine my partners’ classes going forward - many of the students will be enthusiastically tapping AI tools to help them write essays, create designs, and research. But, in the same classes, others still won’t even have unfettered access to their own laptops! Insane. Is there a solution? Well, it seems fairly obvious that we’ve still got a lot of work to do to get the basics right. It seems utterly crazy that, in 2023, while those of us working with tech on a daily basis are absorbed in the wonder and promise of the AI revolution, so many are being left behind.

The past few weeks have convinced me one thing, 2023 really will be seen as the dawning of the AI revolution, and it will affect things in ways we can’t even imagine yet. So, let’s try and find ways to make sure this revolution benefits everyone.