The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence by wealthy nations risks deepening economic and social inequality both within and between countries, U.S. AI firm Anthropic has warned, adding to growing concerns about how the technology could reshape the global economy.
In a recent assessment, Anthropic said advanced economies are far better positioned to benefit from AI due to superior infrastructure, higher levels of investment, skilled labour and access to cutting-edge computing power. Poorer nations, by contrast, risk being left further behind as AI accelerates productivity and growth in already-wealthy regions.
“AI has the potential to significantly boost economic output,” Anthropic noted, “but without deliberate policy choices, those gains are likely to accrue disproportionately to countries and companies that already dominate global markets.”
The warning comes as governments and businesses in the United States, Europe and parts of Asia race to integrate AI into sectors ranging from finance and healthcare to manufacturing, defence and public administration. These investments are expected to drive efficiency and profits, but critics fear they could also concentrate wealth and power among a small group of nations and corporations.
Anthropic said developing countries face multiple barriers to competing in the AI economy, including limited access to high-quality data, shortages of technical expertise, weaker digital infrastructure and the high cost of computing resources. As a result, they may become increasingly dependent on foreign technology providers, reinforcing existing patterns of economic dependence.
The company also cautioned that AI could exacerbate inequality within countries. Highly skilled workers and tech-savvy firms are likely to benefit most, while lower-skilled workers could face job displacement if automation outpaces the creation of new opportunities. Without adequate retraining programmes and social protections, income gaps could widen sharply.
Global policymakers have increasingly acknowledged these risks. International organisations and some governments are calling for greater cooperation to ensure AI development is more inclusive, including technology transfer, investment in digital infrastructure in poorer countries, and shared standards for responsible AI use.
Anthropic said addressing the imbalance will require coordinated action, not only from governments but also from technology companies. “Choices made now about how AI is developed, deployed and governed will shape global inequality for decades,” the company warned.
As AI continues to spread at unprecedented speed, the debate over who benefits and who is left behind is emerging as one of the defining political and economic issues of the coming years.
