AI usage gap – Huawei is stepping up efforts to bridge the AI usage gap, as GSMA Intelligence launches its new report Authored by GSMA Intelligence and produced in collaboration with Huawei, the report was unveiled during UNESCO Digital Learning Week in Paris.
The report highlights a growing challenge in digital inclusion. While almost 96% of the global population is covered by mobile broadband, 3.1 billion people remain unconnected. But connectivity alone does not guarantee meaningful participation. Skills, confidence, affordability and trust all determine whether people can effectively use technology.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in daily life, the report warns that the AI usage gap is growing, leaving people without the necessary skills and confidence behind.
“There are around 3 billion people at risk of not getting the full benefits of AI,” said Tim Hatt, Head of Research and Consulting at GSMA Intelligence, speaking at the report launch roundtable at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. “There is a shared responsibility from industry and government to get ahead of that issue before it’s too late.”
“AI only works if it’s an inclusive technology. Closing the AI usage gap isn’t just a social imperative, we see a $3.5 trillion economic opportunity in doing so,” added Hatt.
Huawei is putting this ambition into practice through Skills on Wheels, with DigiTruck as its flagship offering, bringing mobile classrooms and digital skills training to underserved communities.
“We will continue working alongside local governments and industry partners to drive digital literacy, ensuring that no one is left behind as we transition into the Al economy.” said Gavin Allen, Editor-in-Chief at Huawei.
Since 2019, the initiative has reached more than 130,000 people across 21 countries.
“It’s one DigiTruck…but a real ripple effect of local value,”
In France, Huawei and Konexio are building on the programme’s progress with the next phase of DigiTruck expanding across the Île-de-France region. The initiative comes as the report identifies a different dimension of the digital divide in France, where people may be connected but still lack the skills to engage fully with digital services.
“You may think Paris and Île-de-France are very well connected, but 1.3 million people in the region are still in a situation of digital exclusion,” said Flavie Deprez, CEO of Konexio.
Since 2021, France’s DigiTruck has helped more than 7,000 people across 58 cities improve their digital skills, supported by Close the Gap, Konexio and Mission Ecoter.
Olivier Gomez, CEO of IAC.ai, has seen the potential first-hand after visiting a remote DigiTruck community in Kenya. For Gomez, the next phase of digital inclusion must go beyond basic digital literacy and prepare people for an AI-enabled economy.
“If we are able to educate those young, very smart kids to be able to learn how to utilise AI, we can expect the number of people able to interact with technology to grow by quite a bit and, in less developed countries, in remote locations, there will be opportunities for them to develop their local businesses and tap into the digital economy.”
This article is adopted from https://mediaconnect.com/.
