Abu Dhabi AI Summit Confronts Global Divide: 3.9 Billion People Risk Being Left Behind
The recent Abu Dhabi Global AI Summit served as a powerful call to action, uniting global leaders to address a critical challenge: ensuring the AI revolution benefits all of humanity. A central, alarming statistic framed the discussions: nearly 3.9 billion people are currently excluded from the AI era due to a lack of electricity, internet access, or digital skills.
The summit made it clear that the future of AI is not just about technological breakthroughs but about building inclusive infrastructure and governance to prevent a new, devastating global divide.
The Stark Reality: Infrastructure as the Great Barrier
A key takeaway was that the promise of AI is meaningless without foundational infrastructure. Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, delivered a sobering assessment: “We cannot democratise AI until everyone is connected.” He highlighted that with 700 million people lacking electricity, the path to inclusive AI requires solving basic issues of power and connectivity first. This shifts the conversation from just building better algorithms to building better grids and networks.
AI as a Geopolitical Force Reshaping Global Power
The summit elevated the discussion beyond technology into the realm of global strategy. Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group declared that “AI is geopolitical by design,” comparing control over AI resources—data, compute power, and talent—to historical struggles over oil and minerals. This new dynamic risks creating a world where a handful of nations and corporations dominate, leaving others permanently behind.
Spotlight on India: A Blueprint for Practical, Inclusive AI
India’s approach was highlighted as a compelling model for leveraging AI for public good. S. Krishnan, Secretary of India’s Ministry of Electronics & IT, showcased how the country is using AI for pragmatic solutions, such as:
Analyzing chest X-rays in rural clinics to expand healthcare access.
Using delivery-rider data to identify and map potholes for urban maintenance.
Crucially, Krishnan emphasized that these innovations are built on open-source platforms derived from India’s successful digital public infrastructure (like Aadhaar and UPI), making them affordable and exportable to other developing nations.
The UAE’s Leadership and the Energy Imperative
The UAE itself was presented as a case study in proactive AI adoption. With a per-capita AI adoption rate of 59%, the nation leads many developed countries, underscoring its ambition to be a global AI hub.
Another critical bottleneck was addressed by G42 CEO Peng Xiao, who stated that “the cost of intelligence will become the cost of energy.” This insight positions nations with abundant, clean energy at a significant advantage, framing the AI race as an energy race.
The Urgent Need for Adaptive Global Governance
A consensus emerged that traditional regulation is too slow for AI’s rapid evolution. Bremmer argued for moving beyond a U.S.-China rivalry and instead forming a “coalition of the willing” to ensure AI serves humanity. India’s Krishnan echoed this, advocating for a governance model that is “affordable, open-source, and enables innovation,” rather than stifling it with premature, rigid rules.
Why the Abu Dhabi AI Summit Matters for the Future
The discussions reinforced several critical points:
AI is a Strategic National Priority: It is now central to national competitiveness and development policy.
Inclusion is Non-Negotiable: Without deliberate effort, AI will exacerbate global inequality.
The UAE is a Key Global Player: Its investments and summits solidify its role as a serious hub for AI discourse and deployment.
Practical Models Exist: Case studies from India and others provide a roadmap for applying AI to solve real-world public problems.
Conclusion: A Crossroads for Civilization
The Abu Dhabi Global AI Summit concluded with a sense of urgency. The path forward requires an integrated strategy of infrastructure investment, adaptable governance, and skill development. The message was clear: the goal must be “AI for all.” The alternative—a world where AI benefits only a privileged few—is a risk the global community can no longer afford to ignore. The real work of turning these dialogues into actionable policies and inclusive deployments begins now.
