Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could increase social and economic inequality if access to the technology remains limited to wealthy people, companies and countries.
The Gates Foundation has announced a commitment of $1 billion to help expand access to AI tools and support projects in underserved communities. The funding will focus on areas such as healthcare, education and agriculture, where AI could potentially help address major challenges.
Gates has said that AI could have two very different effects on society. If the technology is made widely available, it could help improve services and create new opportunities. However, if only people and organisations with greater financial resources can use the most advanced AI systems, the technology could create an even wider gap between different groups.
He has therefore urged governments and technology companies to consider equal access when developing and deploying AI. Making AI tools available in different languages and adapting them to local needs could help communities that have traditionally had less access to advanced technology.
The Gates Foundation is working with major technology organisations, including Google.org and Microsoft, on projects designed to use AI to address global problems. Some initiatives are focused on creating tools that can work in local languages and support people working directly in communities.
Healthcare is one of the major areas of interest. AI-based tools could help health workers access information, improve training and support medical services in areas where resources are limited. Similar projects are being explored in education, where AI tools could assist teachers, and agriculture, where digital applications could provide useful information to farmers.
However, experts have warned that simply providing more data or AI tools does not automatically guarantee fairness. Marginalised communities could still be left out if AI systems are designed without considering their languages, circumstances and specific needs.
There are also concerns about who controls the technology and how the benefits of AI are distributed. Critics argue that philanthropic investments, while useful, remain relatively small compared with the enormous amounts technology companies spend developing commercial AI systems.
The Gates Foundation has said that its AI efforts are part of a wider attempt to use technology to address global challenges, including reducing child deaths and preventing diseases.
As AI becomes increasingly important in healthcare, education, agriculture and other areas, the debate over access and fairness is also growing. Gates and other technology leaders have stressed that ensuring AI reaches underserved communities will be important if the technology is to deliver benefits across society rather than deepen existing inequalities.