The Global South is more ready for AI than we think

Editor's note: Lin G. is a CGTN economic commentator. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of CGTN.

Many people worry that artificial intelligence will widen the global digital divide, leaving developing countries further behind advanced economies. But a new CGTN research report suggests that this assumption deserves to be challenged.

According to "How the World Views Artificial Intelligence: Adoption, Cross-Cultural Communication, and Governance," respondents from the Global South appear not only willing to embrace AI, but are in many cases more enthusiastic about it than those in developed economies.

The findings do not represent definitive measurements of actual AI penetration, and the surveys inevitably have limitations. Yet they reveal an important trend: the biggest obstacle to narrowing the AI divide may no longer be people's willingness to adopt AI, but whether the global community can ensure equitable access to its benefits.

The conclusion is drawn from a 2026 CGTN research report, published in collaboration with the Global Opinion Research Center at Renmin University of China, and based on two international surveys. The World Order Survey covered 13,315 valid respondents across 30 countries and territories, while the Global Governance Survey covered more than 12,250 people across 41 countries and territories.

One finding is particularly striking. Among surveyed respondents, reported AI usage reached 93% in Africa, 89% in South America and 88% in Asia. By comparison, Europe and North America each stood at 72%, while Oceania registered 69%. Although these figures should be interpreted cautiously, they challenge the widely held assumption that enthusiasm for AI is concentrated in the developed world.

The surveys reveal an even more meaningful pattern. Across all respondents, 68% believe AI is beneficial to everyday life. On the same question, respondents in the Global South were more likely than those in developed economies to view AI positively. When asked whether AI would replace large numbers of jobs, 56% of respondents globally expressed concern. Yet anxiety in the Global South was lower than in developed countries. Taken together, these findings suggest that developing countries are approaching AI less as a threat than as an opportunity.

This difference reflects how AI is perceived in different economic contexts. In mature economies, AI is often discussed in the context of labor displacement, privacy risks and market concentration. In many developing countries, however, AI represents something more fundamental: access to knowledge, productivity and opportunity. AI is empowering people.

If the willingness to adopt AI is no longer the principal constraint where development needs are greatest, then the challenge ahead is ensuring access—to open technologies, digital infrastructure and global cooperation—so that this willingness can translate into meaningful opportunities and help narrow the AI divide.

This is precisely why AI governance has become so important. According to the surveys, 53% of respondents support establishing international rules for AI governance, while 88% regard discussions on global AI rules at the United Nations as one of the most important issues shaping the future international order. Public expectations are clear. As AI becomes a foundational technology, its governance cannot remain fragmented or dominated by a handful of companies or countries. Building common rules is becoming as important as advancing the technology itself.

The choices made today will determine whether AI becomes a new source of global inequality or a new engine of inclusive development. A more open and accessible AI ecosystem will be critical to narrowing the gap. Open-source models, lower deployment costs and broader technology sharing can reduce barriers for countries that are still building their digital capabilities, allowing them to participate in AI development rather than remain only users of technologies created elsewhere.

At present, the global AI landscape is developing along different paths. While some leading AI systems remain concentrated among a small number of technology companies and are primarily built around closed models, alternative approaches have placed greater emphasis on openness, affordability and wider access. China has been promoting this approach through support for open-source innovation, more affordable AI services and initiatives aimed at strengthening international cooperation on AI governance. The goal is not only to expand access to AI tools, but also to enable more countries to participate in shaping the future of the technology.

The ultimate value of AI should be measured by how well it empowers people. By expanding access to information, knowledge and new capabilities, AI has the potential to give more individuals — especially those who have long faced barriers to accessing such resources — the tools to overcome limitations and pursue new opportunities. The strong embrace of AI among people in the Global South reflects this aspiration: not simply to adopt a new technology, but to use it as a means to unlock greater possibilities for themselves and their societies.