India is in an advantageous position to address digital inequality and foster an inclusive transition in Artificial Intelligence (AI) globally, according to a new report from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released on Tuesday.
While AI is progressing at an unprecedented rate, discrepancies in digital ecosystems among different nations—alongside limited access to connectivity, skills, and infrastructure—are increasing these gaps.
The report, which focuses on the Asia Pacific region, cautioned that without intentional measures, AI risks exacerbating disparities in income, opportunity, and governance, potentially reversing years of advancements in reducing global inequality.
Nevertheless, it emphasized that India’s digital public infrastructure, its growing AI research community, and its vast technology workforce create a robust foundation for leveraging AI for the greater public good.
“India’s digital advantages provide it with a head start in creating an AI future that is beneficial for all. AI is already enhancing public health, bolstering climate resilience, and improving service delivery. The critical challenge lies in ensuring these benefits permeate every community,” stated Dr. Angela Lusigi, Resident Representative, UNDP India.
“The decisions we make today will influence whether AI reduces disparities or exacerbates them. India has the opportunity to lead by ensuring its advantages benefit rural populations, women, and youth, rather than just those who are already well-connected,” she noted.
The report pointed to India as a model for how AI can be safely and inclusively scaled.
India is already utilizing AI to enhance significant public systems. Aadhaar, the largest biometric identification system globally, catering to over 1.3 billion individuals, stands as a prime example.
It has been increasingly integrated with AI to minimize fraud, enhance targeting, and guarantee that benefits reach the appropriate households.
AI’s integration into the health sector is also becoming more pronounced, particularly in interpreting chest X-rays for tuberculosis screening, as well as in efforts to address climate change by predicting floods and other weather-related conditions.
In India’s agriculture sector, AI is being employed to assist authorities in pinpointing districts vulnerable to climate change and to promote climate-smart agricultural practices, along with supporting biodiversity through AI-powered species identification and immediate alerts.
The lasting effects of AI will hinge on the decisions made today—particularly regarding investments in digital governance, inclusion, and protective measures, as noted in the report.
It urged “India to persist in championing people-centric AI, prioritizing transparency, equal access, and the involvement of marginalized groups in the development of AI systems.”
“With appropriate policies, India can guide the region away from entering a new phase of inequality and toward an inclusive AI-driven future that supports the Sustainable Development Goals,” it concluded