Digital Divide

The Digital Divide refers to socioeconomic and geographic disparities in access to, affordability of, and effective use of information and communication technologies, including high-speed internet, digital devices, and computing resources. It encompasses differences in skills and opportunities, not merely whether technology is available. In Artificial Intelligence, the related AI Divide describes unequal access to AI infrastructure, skills, opportunities, and benefits. Disparities in access to Compute, large Datasets, High-Performance Computing, and Cloud Computing are manifestations of this divide that can create barriers to AI development and adoption. Major firms such as Google, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, alongside well-resourced institutions, often have disproportionate access to AI infrastructure and model-development capacity, including resources used for Large Language Models and Generative AI. Underfunded institutions and organizations in developing countries may face greater resource constraints, although circumstances vary across regions and institutions. Digital and AI divides can contribute to unequal AI Literacy, opportunities to acquire Machine Learning skills, and access to AI tools and their benefits.