AI for All: Advancing Digital Inclusion and Tackling Inequality in a Connected World

Fourth Industrial Revolution: How AI Can Enhance Digital Inclusion and Fight Inequality

Jun 4, 2025

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to expand digital inclusion and drive economic growth. Making sure the digital economy is accessible to everyone is crucial to counterbalance the growing tech inequality. For example, a 10% increase in broadband access can raise GDP growth by 1.4% in developing nations. Managed well, AI can serve as a powerful tool to make digital services more inclusive.

The wealth gap is striking: the richest 1% now hold more wealth than the bottom 95%. This alarming trend continues to widen. Klaus Schwab, founder of the World Economic Forum, captured the challenge well: “This is a societal revolution with the power to elevate or fracture humanity.” AI and digital inclusion will be key in fighting forces that increase inequality. By widening digital access, we can boost productivity, foster innovation, and create new jobs for a broader population.

While digital tech touches nearly every part of modern life—communication, work, learning, shopping, entertainment—around 2.6 billion people still lack internet access. That’s one-third of the global population cut off from AI’s benefits. Digital technology must act as a bridge, not a barrier, amplifying every voice and empowering all communities. AI can address pressing issues: drug discovery, fraud detection, agricultural monitoring, and autonomous vehicles. Yet, these advances raise ethical concerns, societal risks, and worries about widening inequality.

An Accessible Digital Economy

To unlock AI’s full potential for inclusion, we must focus on building a digital economy everyone can access. Digital inclusion drives productivity, innovation, and new tech-sector jobs. It acts as a growth catalyst. World Bank data shows a 10% increase in broadband penetration boosts GDP growth in developing economies by 1.4%. Policies should prioritize universal access to digital infrastructure and affordable technology.

Research also reveals that individuals in digitized economies are up to 13.2% more likely to be employed. Employment per company can grow by 22%, and firm exports may nearly quadruple. Digital inclusion isn’t just about technology—it’s a basic human right that enables education and economic improvement. AI can break down barriers to learning and communication through real-time translation, chatbots, and language accessibility.

Overcoming Barriers to Digital Inclusion

Several obstacles limit digital inclusion efforts. These include lacking broadband infrastructure, affordability issues, and insufficient digital skills. Digital skills are essential to stay connected, access information, and join the global economy. The European Union aims for at least 80% of its population to have basic digital skills by 2030. Yet, some advanced economies lag behind; Italy, for example, has only 45.8% of people with basic digital skills compared to the EU average of 55.5%.

Governments, corporations, and non-profits can collaborate to build public infrastructure and connect people. The EDISON Alliance, for instance, has connected over 1 billion people by partnering with more than 200 organizations. They develop localized solutions like mobile learning centers that bring technology to remote areas, sparking learning, access, and economic growth.

AI Innovations Through Policy

AI adoption is widespread. According to McKinsey & Company, 78% of companies use AI in 2025, up from 20% in 2017. Building AI requires massive training data, powerful computing, and skilled talent. The field is dominated by a few powerful tech companies threatening to monopolize access to computing power, data, and advanced models critical for startups.

Governments have a vital role in creating an environment where AI and digital entrepreneurship thrive. They need to regulate potential monopolies and provide platforms for startups. Supportive policies, incentives, and funding for small and medium-sized businesses can foster innovation. Encouraging open-source AI models, transparency, and interoperability can level the playing field.

Driving Collective Impact

AI can tear down barriers to learning, innovation, and life-changing solutions across sectors. But its impact depends on how it’s implemented. AI systems can either promote progress or widen inequalities. Collaboration among policymakers, businesses, and global agencies is essential in several areas:

• Misuse: Prevent AI exploitation for harmful uses like deepfakes, large-scale fraud, or autonomous weapons.
• Accountability: Ensure clear ownership and responsibility for AI systems. Regulators must hold parties accountable for malicious uses and minimize risks.
• Transparency: Promote explainable AI, especially in high-risk fields like healthcare and defense, so users understand decisions.
• Training Data and Models: Avoid biases in AI by using inclusive and representative data sets to prevent discrimination in hiring and other decisions.
• Data Privacy and Security: Protect sensitive information with strong governance frameworks like GDPR.
• International Cooperation: AI impacts cross borders. Countries should adopt common standards and best practices, such as those from the OECD’s AI policy observatory.

Discover EDISON Alliance

Launched at Davos Agenda 2021, the EDISON Alliance is a cross-sector initiative accelerating digital inclusion and connecting vital economic sectors. It has connected over 1 billion people with essential digital services in healthcare, education, and finance across more than 100 countries. The Alliance unites 200+ partners from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society to create innovative, localized digital solutions.

As AI becomes a bigger part of daily life, policies that promote responsible and inclusive AI development are urgent. AI must not remain a privilege for the few. Its progress should open opportunities for all, embedding inclusion at the core of a connected society.