Microsoft’s leadership is urging swift action to confront what it describes as a widening artificial intelligence divide between developed and developing regions of the world, outlining a multiyear commitment to expand access, opportunity and skills in emerging markets.
At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, and Natasha Crampton, Vice President and Chief Responsible AI Officer, emphasized that although AI technology is advancing rapidly, its adoption remains deeply uneven across regions, with usage in advanced economies roughly twice that in developing countries. If unaddressed, this gap could amplify global economic disparities.
To help close this divide, Microsoft said it is on pace to invest about $50 billion by the end of this decade in efforts to boost AI access, infrastructure, skills development, and locally led innovation across countries of the Global South.
The company outlined a five-part strategy designed to support this mission:
- Build critical infrastructure — expanding data centers, power, and connectivity that underpin AI systems.
- Empower people with skills and technology — including digital and AI education in schools and nonprofit settings.
- Strengthen multilingual and culturally aware AI capabilities — to ensure tools work effectively in local languages and contexts.
- Enable local AI innovation — supporting solutions that tackle community-specific challenges.
- Measure AI diffusion — to better understand where and how AI is being adopted and where gaps remain.
Microsoft’s efforts include expanding internet connectivity to unserved and underserved populations, broad skill-building initiatives under its Elevate program, and partnerships with local governments and organizations to tailor AI solutions. The company cited the potential for AI to help emerging economies achieve catch-up growth if deployed broadly and responsibly, viewing the technology as a transformative opportunity rather than just a technical advance.
KEY QUOTES:
“Artificial intelligence is diffusing at an impressive speed, but its adoption around the world remains profoundly uneven… Unless we act with urgency, a growing AI divide will perpetuate this disparity in the century ahead.” “If AI is deployed broadly and used well by a young and growing population, it offers a real prospect for catch-up economic growth for the Global South… It might even provide the biggest such opportunity of the 21st century.”
Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft
“We need to act with urgency to address the growing AI divide… This commitment is supported by a five-part program focused on strengthening infrastructure, increasing access to technology and skills… and supporting locally driven innovation.”
Natasha Crampton, Vice President and Chief Responsible AI Officer, Microsoft
