Bangkok: Millions of jobs in the Asia-Pacific region are at risk as artificial intelligence adoption accelerates in wealthier nations, according to UN economists. The AI boom, while promising significant economic gains, could exacerbate inequalities, with poorer nations struggling to keep pace due to limited digital access and literacy.
According to EMM, UN Development Programme (UNDP) Chief Economist Philip Schellekens highlighted that countries investing in skills, computing power, and governance systems will benefit, while others risk falling behind. The UNDP's report underscores that women and young adults face the greatest threat from AI in the workplace, potentially hindering improvements in health, education, and income.
The AI industry's growth is projected to inject nearly $1 trillion in economic gains across Asia over the next decade. However, the UN agency warns that countries like China, Singapore, and South Korea, which have heavily invested in AI, pose significant challenges to entry-level workers in many South Asian nations. These workers are vulnerable to automation and other technological changes.
The UNDP cautions that limited infrastructure, skills, computing power, and governance capacity in certain nations constrain potential AI benefits while amplifying risks such as job displacement and rising global energy and water demands from AI-intensive systems. To mitigate a looming jobs crisis, the UNDP urges governments to consider the ethics of AI and to implement inclusive policies.
Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, emphasized the rapid emergence of gaps between countries shaping AI and those being shaped by it. In nations like Cambodia, Papua New Guinea, and Vietnam, the focus is on leveraging simple voice-based tools for frontline health workers and farmers rather than developing advanced AI technologies.
The Asia-Pacific region, home to over 55 percent of the world's population, is central to the AI transition. UNDP notes that the region hosts more than half of global AI users, with China holding nearly 70 percent of global AI patents. Six countries in the region are home to over 3,100 newly funded AI companies.
The report suggests that AI could boost annual GDP growth in the region by around two percentage points and increase productivity by up to five percent in sectors such as health and finance. However, economic disparities remain stark, as illustrated by Afghanistan's average income being 200 times lower than Singapore's, partly explaining the concentrated AI adoption in wealthier countries.
Philip Schellekens emphasized the uneven starting point in the region, noting it as the most unequal globally. The UNDP calls for strategic investments and policies to ensure inclusive AI benefits across all nations.