AI is revolutionizing sectors like climate change, education, poverty alleviation, and healthcare, offering solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. However, to fully unlock its potential, we must ask, “How do we ensure it’s accessible, fair, and inclusive, especially for the grossly disadvantaged?”

AI can scale solutions, predict crises, and personalize education. For instance, in a remote village with limited teachers, an AI-powered app could provide tailored lessons to bridge the education gap. Similarly, AI can help farmers in rural areas boost yields and reduce food insecurity. Yet, without electricity, internet, or infrastructure, these benefits cannot reach those who need them most. The challenge is not the technology itself, but ensuring it reaches everyone, particularly the underserved.

Globally, over 750 million people are illiterate, and 2.7 billion lack access to basic sanitation. That’s about 25% of the global population, and the digital divide risks exacerbating this gap. To address this, we must prioritize infrastructure - reliable power, internet, and digital literacy. But accessibility alone isn’t enough; AI must be designed with fairness and inclusivity, ensuring it doesn’t reinforce biases or exclude marginalized communities. Collaboration across governments, tech companies, and nonprofits can also not be overemphasized.

A powerful example is AI’s role in precision farming, helping farmers in developing regions improve food security. However, for this technology to truly benefit remote farmers, it needs to be accessible—requiring stable power, connectivity, and resources to navigate it. For example, platforms like M-Farm in Kenya empowers rural women farmers by providing access to real-time market prices and connecting them with buyers, but challenges like limited smartphone access and network connectivity hinder its full impact.

Equity in AI isn’t just about innovation; it’s about creating systems that serve everyone, no matter their resources. AI’s potential will only be realized when it benefits the most disadvantaged, not just the connected. We must invest in infrastructure, education, and ethical development to ensure AI drives inclusive, transformative change.

AI has arrived to stay. We must embrace its power for good but ensure it serves all, with fairness, accessibility, and inclusivity at its core. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how we can ensure AI works for everyone—what steps do you think we need to take to bridge the divide?