Digital Divide & AI: New World Order in Tech – Internet Ciudadana Magazine #16
The accelerating pace of technological change is widening the gap between those with access to its benefits and those left behind, according to a new report from the Citizen Internet network. Published this week as the 16th edition of their digital magazine, titled “The new world order is also defined in the technological arena,” the report highlights a growing disparity in knowledge and access, particularly concerning artificial intelligence.
The editors’ prologue notes the difficulty of critically tracking the rapid shifts in the digital landscape with informed and up-to-date information. This acceleration, they argue, correlates with an expanding knowledge gap between an elite segment with access to a wide range of technological resources and the vast majority of disadvantaged and precarious sectors – a gap that is, once again, widening in this dimension. This growing divide, the report contends, hinders the ability to critically analyze the technology that now permeates nearly every aspect of daily life.
The increasing influence of artificial intelligence is also raising concerns about the veracity and neutrality of information, the very foundation of critical reflection. The report frames this challenge with the formula: “The more we use, the less we understand where it leads us.” This sentiment echoes concerns raised in a report by the Council on Foreign Relations, which warned that without urgent action to close the digital divide, billions will be excluded from the benefits of AI while still experiencing its disruptions.
The Citizen Internet report further asserts that intense corporate competition and geopolitical interests for control of the internet are at odds with the growth of democratic alternatives that serve the people. It emphasizes the importance of supporting and disseminating information about existing alternatives, and positions the current issue of the magazine as a contribution to reducing the gap in analysis and understanding of the current digital reality and its potential alternatives.
The magazine’s content offers both critical analysis and potential solutions. It warns against the “naiveté” of accepting as reality the information presented by algorithms developed by large corporations. The report also addresses the geopolitical, social, and existential implications of the current digital landscape.
One alternative highlighted is the recently launched Mapping of Free Technologies, a collection of tools, organizations, and resources for those seeking to circumvent the control of monopolistic companies. This aligns with the broader trend of seeking alternatives to dominant tech platforms, a theme explored in the Council on Foreign Relations report, which notes that many are still coming online, lacking the infrastructure to access even basic internet services, let alone advanced AI technologies.
The report also details developments by Brazilian peasant organizations, such as the MST, with Chinese support, that prioritize popular movements. It further presents advancements in technology from feminist and Southern activist perspectives, alongside a case study of how the Wikipedia digital encyclopedia addresses contentious topics. This focus on grassroots and alternative technological development is particularly relevant given the concentration of AI data centers in just 32 nations, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere, as highlighted in a New York Times interactive feature.
The concentration of AI computing power is creating a new digital divide, fracturing the world between nations capable of building cutting-edge AI systems and those without. The New York Times report details the massive scale of investment in AI infrastructure, citing OpenAI’s $60 billion data center project in Texas, which will be one of the most powerful computing hubs ever created. This contrasts sharply with the situation in countries like Argentina, where advanced AI computing is limited to converted rooms at universities with aging equipment.
The Citizen Internet report underscores that this isn’t simply a technological issue, but one with significant geopolitical and economic implications. The unequal distribution of AI resources is creating new dependencies and prompting a rush to avoid exclusion from a technology race that could reshape economies and drive scientific discovery. As Bill Gates predicted in his annual letter, the United States is expected to see significant AI adoption within the next 18-24 months, with African countries following closely behind. However, the report implicitly questions whether these advancements will be equitably distributed.
The report concludes with original cartoons, adding a touch of levity to the serious reflection. The magazine is freely accessible on the Citizen Internet website at this link.
The Citizen Internet’s analysis serves as a timely reminder that technological progress, particularly in the realm of AI, is not inherently equitable. Addressing the digital divide and promoting equitable access to these technologies is crucial to ensure that the benefits are shared broadly, and that the potential for further marginalization is mitigated.