AI boom could leave 118 countries behind, UN warns

Artificial intelligence is projected to reach a market value of $4.8 trillion by 2033, becoming a major driver of digital transformation, according to a new UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) report. But access to AI infrastructure and expertise remains heavily concentrated in a handful of countries.

UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan warned that less than one-third of developing countries have national AI strategies, and 118 nations—mostly in the Global South—are absent from key global AI governance discussions.

“AI is shaping the world’s economic future,” she said, “but many countries are being left behind.”

The UNCTAD Technology and Innovation Report 2025 emphasizes that AI is not inherently inclusive. To benefit from its potential, developing countries must invest in digital infrastructure, data access, and skills development. The report also called for stronger international cooperation to ensure that people—not just technology—remain at the heart of AI’s future.

It noted that just 100 companies, mostly in the US and China, account for 40% of global corporate R&D spending, with tech giants like Apple, Nvidia, and Microsoft each valued at nearly $3 trillion—comparable to the GDP of the entire African continent.

While AI raises concerns over job displacement, the report highlights its potential to create new industries and empower workers. Countries aiming to shape effective AI strategies must focus on three pillars: infrastructure, data, and skills. How nations position themselves on these fronts will define their ability to adopt AI, drive innovation, and ensure it supports sustainable development goals.