Warning of the risk of widening the 'development gap' due to AI

On the morning of December 2, in Hanoi, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released the report “The Next Great Polarization: Why Artificial Intelligence Could Increase Inequality Between Countries”. The core message emphasized is that although AI has great potential to transform the economy and public services, the different starting points of countries are creating significant risks. Without strong policies, the development gap could widen, threatening to reverse decades of efforts to reduce global inequality.

In that context, Vietnam has emerged as a bright spot in the region. According to UNDP, the Vietnamese Government has demonstrated strong political will through a national strategy to turn the country into one of the AI hubs by 2030, with the goal of entering the top 3 in Southeast Asia and the top 50 globally in research and development in this field.

The UNDP’s Artificial Intelligence Landscape Assessment (AILA) report shows that Vietnam has been implementing key investments to promote digital transformation. The rapid development of digital infrastructure, including nationwide 4G coverage, 5G deployment roadmap and improvement in global e- government rankings are solid foundations supporting this process.

Ms. Ramla Khalidi - UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam warned that Vietnam is facing the formation of an "AI equity gap".

The potential of AI in Vietnam has begun to be evident in real life. These include tools that help diagnose diseases more accurately in clinics, platforms that personalize learning, or applications that help farmers detect pests even when they have limited digital skills. In particular, an AI-based support platform is being tested to help citizens access 15 essential online public administrative services.

These efforts put Vietnam in the mainstream of the Asia-Pacific region, which is considered the global AI transformation hub with the potential to contribute nearly $1 trillion in additional GDP to ASEAN economies over the next decade.

However, Ms. Ramla Khalidi - UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam warned that Vietnam is also facing the formation of an "AI equity gap". AI is developing at a faster pace than any previous technology and countries or population groups that are not capable of absorbing these innovations will risk being left further behind.

Millions of jobs, especially those of women and young people, are at risk of being automated. Using AI in recruitment could inadvertently reinforce gender stereotypes, pushing women into low-wage jobs while men dominate technical roles.

The regional landscape also shows significant disparities in digital readiness. While tech powerhouses like Singapore, South Korea and China are investing heavily in advanced infrastructure and skills, many other countries are still struggling to ensure basic digital access.

Limited infrastructure, skills, and governance capacity not only reduce the potential benefits of AI, but also increase the risks of data insecurity. Forecasts show that by 2027, more than 40% of global AI-related data breaches could stem from the misuse of generative AI.

Ms. Ramla Khalidi commented that Vietnam is well-positioned to leverage AI for sustainable growth, but the prerequisite is to thoroughly address challenges in digital skills, data quality and social inclusion.

For AI to truly become a force for equitable development, Vietnam needs to develop inclusive policies, make targeted investments, and establish responsible AI governance mechanisms. A healthy digital ecosystem must ensure that women, rural communities, and vulnerable groups are not left behind, and that technology becomes a tool to narrow rather than widen the gap between rich and poor.

Minh Thu

Source: https://doanhnghiepvn.vn/cong-nghe/canh-bao-nguy-co-noi-rong-khoang-cach-phat-trien-vi-ai/20251202023232422