China event asks if Apec's rules can close growing AI gap between rich and poor

A conference in southern China is pushing Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to help close a widening AI gap between wealthy economies and the Global South. Speakers said many developing countries still lack the infrastructure and talent needed to use artificial intelligence effectively, warning innovation could end up benefiting only a small group of nations and businesses. Chung Chul of the Korea Economic Research Institute argued the economic gap is “widening, not shrinking,” and that inclusive governance must be planned in advance, not treated as an afterthought. UNCTAD data cited heavy concentration of AI rule-making among a small number of countries and about 100 corporations.