(MENAFN) A United Nations agency issued an urgent warning Tuesday that artificial intelligence risks widening the chasm between nations unless governments rapidly bolster their digital infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.

The UN Development Programme (UNDP) released a comprehensive analysis titled The Next Great Divergence: Why AI May Widen Inequality Between Countries, cautioning that despite AI's transformative economic potential, nations "begin this transition from highly uneven positions." This disparity threatens to amplify existing gaps in economic output, workforce capabilities, and institutional strength.

The Asia-Pacific region—housing over 55% of humanity—stands at the epicenter of this technological revolution, the report reveals. More than half the world's AI users now reside in this region, where innovation is surging. China alone commands nearly 70% of worldwide AI patents, while six regional economies have collectively spawned over 3,100 newly-funded AI enterprises.

Economic projections suggest AI integration could boost the region's annual GDP growth by approximately 2 percentage points. ASEAN member states stand to capture nearly $1 trillion in additional economic output throughout the coming decade, according to the analysis.

However, these gains carry substantial risks. Automation threatens millions of positions, with women and younger workers facing disproportionate vulnerability without ethical, inclusive policy frameworks.

South Asian women encounter particularly steep barriers—they remain up to 40% less likely than their male counterparts to possess smartphones, the report noted, illustrating persistent digital access disparities.

"AI is racing ahead, and many countries are still at the starting line," said Kanni Wignaraja, the UN assistant secretary-general and UNDP regional director for Asia and the Pacific. "The Asia and Pacific experience highlights how quickly gaps can emerge between those shaping AI and those being shaped by it."

The document also spotlights AI's accelerating integration into government operations, citing platforms in Bangkok, Singapore, and Beijing that are revolutionizing civic services and metropolitan development. Despite this adoption, comprehensive regulatory structures remain scarce. By 2027, misuse of generative AI may account for over 40% of worldwide AI-related data breaches.

"The central fault line in the AI era is capability," said Philip Schellekens, UNDP chief economist for Asia and the Pacific. "Countries that invest in skills, computing power and sound governance systems will benefit, others risk being left far behind."

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