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The AI divide: Who gets left behind?

Almost 4 billion people lack the infrastructure to participate in the AI revolution. Can business and policy leaders ensure technology narrows, not widens, the global gap?

Vice chair and President of Microsoft, Brad Smith says, "AI will either help close the great divide economically in the world, or it will make it wider." With billions lacking power, internet, and digital literacy, the stakes are high.

Smith argues that only bold partnerships between governments and companies can ensure AI lifts everyone.

Watch more Global Stage coverage from the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly here: gzeromedia.com/globalstage

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Preparing the workforce for AI

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Expanding AI access worldwide

Could AI deepen global inequality or help close the gap? Lisa Monaco, President of Global Affairs, Microsoft, says it all comes down to trust. She argues that “people won’t use technology that they don’t trust,” especially as geopolitical tensions raise concerns about the reliability and resilience of digital infrastructure.

How can we fix the AI divide?

AI is moving fast, but not everyone is moving with it. Inside the UN, global leaders debate how to close the widening AI divide.
Artificial intelligence isn’t just about innovation. It’s about access, infrastructure, and whether the benefits of a transformative technology will be shared or concentrated.

Live premiere from the United Nations | Global Stage | “The AI Divide: From Warning to Action" | Wednesday, March 25th at 12pm ET  | gzeromedia.com/globalstage | Global Stage GZERO Microsoft

Watch today's Global Stage live premiere from the UN on 'The AI Divide'

Watch a recording of today's live premiere of our Global Stage panel, “The AI Divide: From Warning to Action,” where we convened a panel of experts and policymakers at the United Nations to discuss AI equity and responsible deployment.