The information contained in this note was made public by UNCTAD.
Artificial intelligence (AI) could add trillions to global GDP over the next decade, but its positive impact on development will depend on the infrastructure, access to data, and technological skills in each country. This was emphasized by UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan during the UNCTAD 16 Ministerial Roundtable, held today (21 October 2025) in Geneva.
"AI promises a lot, but the promise is only fulfilled through true diffusion of the technologies.", Grynspan said before ministers, delegates and international experts.
UNCTAD warned that only 100 companies account for more than 40% of global investment in AI research and development.While Less than a third of developing countries have adopted national AI strategies, and 118 nations in the Global South are absent from international debates on technological governance.
These gaps have concrete effects: farmers without connectivity who can't use AI-based weather forecasts, small manufacturers without access to affordable technology, and hospitals that require infrastructure to improve their diagnostics.
Ways to close the gap
Grynspan stressed the need for national strategies focused on infrastructure, data and skills, with concrete roadmaps that allow local innovation and align AI with development priorities.
At the international level, he highlighted the importance of the global cooperation, with data governance frameworks that promote accountability and interoperability, and proposed the creation of a shared global digital facility to ensure equitable access to AI infrastructure, foster open innovation and the sharing of knowledge and resources, taking as an example andCERN in Europe (European Organization for Nuclear Research, by its acronym in French).
La Roundtable It also addressed capacity building, the democratization of AI, the adaptation of industrial and innovation policies, and inclusive governance mechanisms that balance innovation, ethics, and socioeconomic security, in line with the Pact for the Future and the objectives of the Global Digital Compact. Representatives from Brazil, Finland, South Korea, Türkiye, Ghana, Estonia and the International Telecommunication Union, under a Davos-style format.
"We may not be able to replicate the necessary infrastructure in every country, but by working together we can share it and enable true technological diffusion across the regions., Grynspan said.
In closing, the Secretary-General delivered a message: the impact of AI on development is not predetermined, and will depend on decisions about investment, governance, and skills development made today.
"Whether AI will widen or close the gaps will depend on the decisions we make now. Their experiences will help chart that path.He said.
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