The technocentric world is evolving faster than ever, but many actors are being left behind because of the divide between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots', which is now growing into an AI divide. With its paradoxical power to both widen and bridge this gap, AI is the first technology where we can intervene early enough to design trustworthy adoption patterns and work toward alignment. This research explores the innovative use of artificial intelligence (AI) in underdeveloped communities to alleviate poverty.
This study provides a comprehensive framework and evaluates the efficacy, feasibility, and ethical considerations of diverse, vertical AI applications, including satellite imagery for predictive poverty mapping, the utilization of Edge AI to circumvent connectivity constraints, and the deployment of AI-driven conversational agents in educational contexts where traditional infrastructure is absent. The analysis reveals that the most successful deployments prioritize ‘localization’ over mere innovation and often succeed due to governmental backing. Ultimately, this paper establishes a roadmap for governments and international actors to support equitable technology frameworks through three actionable recommendations: i) interdisciplinary partnerships; ii) data and resource equity; and iii) an amalgamation of policymaking AI and innovative AI.