{"id":61087,"date":"2025-12-09T15:29:40","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T09:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=61087"},"modified":"2025-12-13T11:42:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T06:12:15","slug":"ai-adoption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/09-12-2025\/ai-adoption","title":{"rendered":"Unequal AI Adoption &amp; Widening Inequalities in Asia Pacific"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy, Employment, GS4\/Impact of AI on Society<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to a recent <strong>United Nations report<\/strong>, the Countries across the <strong>Asia-Pacific region<\/strong> face <strong>unequal starting points<\/strong>, highlighting deep divides in digital and economic readiness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Artificial Intelligence (AI) Adoption<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>According to a <strong>new UNDP flagship report, <\/strong>it has seen one of the <strong>fastest technological adoptions in history<\/strong>, reaching <strong>1.2 billion users in just three years<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Nearly <strong>70% of these users are in developing countries<\/strong>, but the global distribution remains highly uneven.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>T<strong>wo-thirds of people in high-income nations<\/strong> already use AI tools, but <strong>usage in many low-income economies <\/strong>remains close to <strong>5%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"7196b6\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"935\" height=\"293\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-49.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-61088\" style=\"--dominant-color: #7196b6; aspect-ratio:3.1912620206577227;width:650px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-49.png 935w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-49-300x94.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/image-49-768x241.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 935px) 100vw, 935px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Understanding the Divergence in AI Adoption<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>AI can <strong>boost economic growth<\/strong>, <strong>enhance public services<\/strong>, <strong>expand opportunities<\/strong>, and <strong>strengthen resilience<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>But, without inclusive adoption, it may also <strong>deepen divides<\/strong>, <strong>amplify exclusion<\/strong>, and <strong>weaken governance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Countries that possess the <strong>right mix of connectivity, digital skills, computing capacity, and regulation<\/strong> will capture <strong>most of the AI dividend.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Meanwhile, others risk facing <strong>job disruption<\/strong>, <strong>data exclusion<\/strong>, <strong>misinformation<\/strong>, and even <strong>resource strain<\/strong> due to the rising energy and water demands of AI systems falling behind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>AI Adoption Across Asia-Pacific: Promise and Peril<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>AI and People:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bhutan<\/strong> is piloting <strong>AI tutors<\/strong> to personalize school learning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mongolia\u2019s AI-driven credit scoring<\/strong> has provided <strong>$70 million<\/strong> in micro-loans to nearly <strong>4,000 small businesses<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Viet Nam\u2019s digital farming tools<\/strong> reach <strong>39 million farmers<\/strong> with real-time agricultural data.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Northeast India\u2019s AI flood-forecasting systems<\/strong> have <strong>doubled prediction accuracy<\/strong>, saving lives and property.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>However, above advances <strong>coexist with persistent inequalities, like:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>1.6 billion people<\/strong> in the region cannot afford a healthy diet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>27 million youths<\/strong> remain illiterate.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Women in South Asia<\/strong> are <strong>40% less likely than men<\/strong> to own a smartphone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rural and minority groups remain <strong>largely invisible in the datasets<\/strong> that train AI models.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AI and the Economy:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>AI could <strong>lift global GDP growth by around 2 percentage points annually<\/strong> and <strong>increase productivity by up to 5%<\/strong>, if scaled effectively, in key sectors such as finance and healthcare.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For example, <strong>ASEAN economies could gain nearly $1 trillion in additional GDP<\/strong> over the next decade.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These gains come with <strong>significant labor market disruptions<\/strong>, like:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>75% of firms<\/strong> expect <strong>job losses<\/strong> even as new AI-related roles emerge.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Female workers<\/strong> are <strong>twice as exposed to automation risks<\/strong> compared to male counterparts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Informality remains high<\/strong>, with <strong>88% of jobs in India<\/strong> and <strong>60% in Indonesia<\/strong> lacking formal protections, heightening vulnerability to displacement.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>AI and Governance:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bangkok\u2019s Traffy Fondue platform<\/strong> has processed <strong>600,000 citizen reports<\/strong> efficiently.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Singapore\u2019s Moments of Life<\/strong> app reduced new-parent paperwork from <strong>120 minutes to just 15 minutes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Beijing\u2019s digital twin systems<\/strong> simulate urban growth and flood risks in real time.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>However, <strong>regulatory frameworks lag behind<\/strong> technological advances. Only a handful of countries have <strong>comprehensive AI laws<\/strong>, and many systems remain <strong>opaque \u2018black boxes\u2019.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>By <strong>2027<\/strong>, an estimated <strong>40% of global AI-related data breaches<\/strong> could stem from the <strong>misuse of generative AI<\/strong>, underscoring urgent governance challenges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gaps in AI Preparedness: <\/strong>The <strong>AI Preparedness Index<\/strong>, developed by the <strong>International Monetary Fund (IMF)<\/strong>, reveals disparities in readiness across the Asia-Pacific.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Advanced economies<\/strong> like <strong>Singapore, South Korea, and China<\/strong> score <strong>above 70%<\/strong>, reflecting robust digital infrastructure, strong innovation ecosystems, and proactive regulation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fragile and low-income states<\/strong>, by contrast, score <strong>below 20%<\/strong>, lacking reliable electricity, data systems, and connectivity needed to fully participate in the AI revolution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These <strong>regional divides<\/strong> are compounded by <strong>inequalities within countries<\/strong>, where <strong>income and wealth remain concentrated among the top 10%<\/strong>, leaving large segments of the population excluded from technological progress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward: Building Inclusive AI Futures<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Building the Foundations for Inclusive AI: <\/strong>The UN report emphasizes that inclusive AI adoption depends on strengthening both <strong>hard<\/strong> and <strong>soft<\/strong> foundations.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hard foundations<\/strong> include affordable and reliable internet access, clean and stable electricity, and cooling and computing resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Soft<\/strong> foundations include <strong>human capital development<\/strong> through education and upskilling; <strong>effective public institutions<\/strong> to guide digital transformation; and <strong>robust legal and ethical frameworks<\/strong> to ensure fairness, privacy, and trust.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>UNDP\u2019s Call to Action: <\/strong>The UNDP urges immediate global and national action to <strong>bridge the AI divide<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Invest in digital infrastructure and connectivity;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthen AI-related education and skills;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Develop ethical and safety regulations;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promote sustainable and energy-efficient compute;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Foster regional and global cooperation on standards and open-source AI models;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q]<\/strong> To what extent does unequal AI adoption risk reinforcing existing socio-economic disparities in the Asia Pacific region, and what policy interventions could ensure more equitable outcomes?<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/UPSC-Editorial-Analysis-9-December-2025.pdf\">Download PDF<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Published on:<\/strong> 9th December, 2025<\/p>\n<p>According to a recent United Nations report, the Countries across the Asia-Pacific region face unequal starting points, highlighting deep divides in digital and economic readiness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":61090,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61087","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2025\/12\/ai-adoption.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61087","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=61087"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61087\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":61120,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61087\/revisions\/61120"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/61090"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=61087"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=61087"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=61087"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}