“Artificial Intelligence may exacerbate societal inequalities.”
It is a line that has been repeated by academics, think tanks, and political commentators across the globe. It is a convenient doomsday narrative — one that paints AI as a tool of the rich, a destroyer of jobs, and a catalyst of inequality. But is this narrative grounded in facts or in fear? As someone who has studied how technology and governance evolve hand in hand, I believe this perception is misplaced.
AI is not the villain of our times; it is the great equalizer waiting to be harnessed. The real issue is not AI itself but how societies, governments, and businesses choose to deploy it.
Critics argue that AI will widen the gap between rich and poor. Their logic is simple: those with access to cutting-edge AI systems will reap the benefits, while those without will fall behind. This is not an unreasonable concern — but it ignores the history of technology.
When electricity was first introduced, the wealthy had access before the poor. Did that mean electricity entrenched inequality? For a short while, yes. But eventually, governments and businesses ensured electricity was affordable and universal. The same happened with the internet, mobile phones, and now smartphones. Today, the rickshaw driver in Goa uses UPI and WhatsApp on the same kind of smartphone as the CEO of a multinational company.
AI is following the same trajectory. The cost of computing, data storage, and AI access is dropping. Open-source AI models, cloud-based platforms, and even government initiatives are making it accessible across geographies. The fear that AI will remain the preserve of the elite is exaggerated.
Let us look at real data:
- Healthcare: A 2023 McKinsey report found that AI-driven diagnostic tools reduced the cost of early cancer detection by 35% in pilot projects in India. These are tools being tested in district hospitals, not luxury hospitals. For rural populations, this is not inequality — it is empowerment.
- Agriculture: According to the World Bank, AI-based crop advisory services in Africa and India increased small farmers’ yields by up to 20%. These farmers are not the “privileged elite.” They are the very backbone of the so-called marginalized societies that critics claim will be left behind.
- Education: UNESCO has highlighted how AI-powered translation and tutoring tools have bridged language barriers for millions of students in developing nations. Instead of waiting for expensive English coaching, a child in rural Bihar can now access lessons in her mother tongue through AI-powered platforms.
Each of these examples demonstrates that AI is being deployed to reduce barriers, not increase them.
Another repeated concern is that AI will destroy jobs and leave millions unemployed, particularly among low-income groups. This narrative too is half-truth at best.
History shows us that every major technological shift eliminates some jobs but creates new ones. When computers arrived, typists lost jobs. But IT services, software development, and the digital economy created far more opportunities.
AI is already showing the same trend. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2023 estimates that AI may displace 83 million jobs worldwide by 2027 — but it will also create 69 million new roles. These new roles include AI trainers, ethics auditors, data annotators, AI-assisted teachers, healthcare workers leveraging AI tools, and entrepreneurs using AI-driven platforms.
The key question is: Will societies invest in re-skilling their workforce? If yes, then AI will not exacerbate inequality but accelerate upward mobility. If not, the blame lies not on AI but on governance failure.
The core issue in this debate is governance. AI is like nuclear power: it can light up cities or destroy them. Its potential depends entirely on how governments regulate, distribute, and democratize it.
India provides an example. The government’s National AI Strategy emphasizes “AI for All.” By focusing on healthcare, education, agriculture, and smart mobility, India is ensuring AI deployment is not confined to elite boardrooms but reaches villages and towns.
Similarly, UNESCO and OECD are pushing for global ethical frameworks to ensure AI tools do not discriminate based on race, gender, or class. These governance frameworks are critical. Inequality is not the natural outcome of AI — negligence and lack of vision are.
Let us reframe the narrative. Far from exacerbating inequality, AI has the potential to level the playing field in ways no previous technology has.
- Healthcare for All
In a country like India, where doctor-patient ratios are abysmally low (1 doctor for every 1,456 patients), AI can act as the first line of healthcare. From automated diagnostics in rural clinics to AI chatbots offering medical advice, this is not inequality — it is access where none existed. - Education Without Borders
AI can bring personalized education to every child. Imagine a slum child in Mumbai learning mathematics at her own pace through an AI tutor, while a child in London does the same. For the first time in history, a digital teacher can bridge the inequality of geography and economics. - Entrepreneurship Revolution
AI tools for content creation, financial analysis, marketing, and logistics are available to small entrepreneurs at minimal cost. A tea seller in Goa can use AI to design advertisements or optimize delivery routes — the same tools that multinationals use. - Bridging the Disability Divide
AI-driven accessibility tools (speech-to-text, vision aids, automated sign language translation) are opening doors for differently-abled individuals who were previously excluded from education and jobs.
Each of these examples is proof that AI, when deployed responsibly, narrows the inequality gap.
So why do some persist in painting AI as a driver of inequality? The answer is partly ideological. For some, technology is always a symbol of capitalist exploitation. For others, it is a convenient political tool — to fearmonger about automation, globalization, and inequality.
But fear cannot be our guiding principle. If nations retreat into fear, they risk missing the biggest opportunity of our generation.
For India, the question is not whether AI will create inequality, but whether India will lead in democratizing AI. With a young population, strong IT base, and government focus, India has the opportunity to make AI a tool of empowerment for 1.4 billion people.
We must invest in:
- AI skilling programs for workers and students.
- Open-source AI platforms accessible to startups and small businesses.
- AI in governance to reduce corruption and bureaucratic hurdles.
- Global AI partnerships to ensure equitable access to technology.
If India succeeds here, it will prove that AI is not a divider but a unifier.
Artificial Intelligence is not destiny; it is design. It will not automatically exacerbate inequalities unless societies allow it to. With vision, investment, and ethical governance, AI can become the new social contract — one that ensures access to healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, and opportunity for all.
Instead of fearing inequality, we must fear inaction. The real danger is not AI itself but a society that hesitates, delays, or mismanages its adoption.
AI, far from being a threat, is the chance to create the most inclusive future humanity has ever known
