Who Benefits Most From AI
==The report says the biggest gains from AI are currently going to advanced economies, large and already productive firms, industries such as ICT and professional services, and owners of technology and capital.== [:c...
==The report says the biggest gains from AI are currently going to advanced economies, large and already productive firms, industries such as ICT and professional services, and owners of technology and capital.== [:cite[3]{ln=1}][:cite[2]{ln=5}][:cite[4]{ln=1}][:cite[4]{ln=2}][:cite[6]{ln=1}][:cite[6]{ln=5}][:cite[1]{ln=2}][:cite[5]{ln=2}] Advanced economies benefit most at current adoption rates because AI’s productivity benefits are expected to be more than double those in developing countries, largely because advanced economies are adopting AI more widely.[:cite[3]{ln=1}][:cite[3]{ln=2}][:cite[7]{ln=1}][:cite[7]{ln=4}] Already strong firms benefit more than weaker firms : in China, the biggest benefits went to firms that were already highly productive and located in places with strong digital infrastructure, financial systems, and competitive markets.[:cite[8]{ln=2}][:cite[8]{ln=3}] Within developing countries, gains accrue disproportionately to a select group of firms , especially large firms, higher productivity firms, and firms in stronger exporting regions.[:cite[4]{ln=1}][:cite[4]{ln=2}] Firm capabilities matter a lot : firms with better management practices are more likely to adopt AI, and a Kenya trial found that AI improved performance for businesses already doing well but lowered performance for weaker firms that lacked the practices needed to use it well.[:cite[9]{ln=1}][:cite[9]{ln=2}][:cite[9]{ln=3}][:cite[9]{ln=4}] Larger firms currently have an advantage over smaller firms , and the gap is especially large for more sophisticated AI use.[:cite[10]{ln=1}][:cite[11]{ln=2}][:cite[11]{ln=4}][:cite[11]{ln=5}] Some industries gain more than others , with AI adoption highest in information and communication technology services and professional services, so productivity gains are likely to concentrate there if current patterns persist.[:cite[6]{ln=1}][:cite[6]{ln=4}][:cite[6]{ln=5}][:cite[6]{ln=6}] Capital owners are capturing a growing share of the gains : the report says early evidence suggests that more of AI’s economic gains are going to owners of technology and capital rather than workers.[:cite[1]{ln=2}][:cite[5]{ln=1}][:cite[5]{ln=2}][:cite[5]{ln=4}] ==At the same time, the report says AI could deliver especially large benefits to developing countries and ordinary workers where it helps relieve shortages of scarce skills.== [:cite[12]{ln=1}][:cite[12]{ln=4}][:cite[13]{ln=2}] Developing countries may gain a lot when AI expands the effective supply of skills , because the biggest gains from a technology often occur where the scarce resource it augments is in shortest supply.[:cite[12]{ln=2}][:cite[12]{ln=4}][:cite[12]{ln=5}][:cite[13]{ln=2}] Farmers, small business owners, and teachers can benefit quickly when AI tools work in local languages and fit existing ways of working, including on basic mobile phones.[:cite[14]{ln=1}][:cite[14]{ln=2}][:cite[14]{ln=3}] People in agriculture, small retail, and other microenterprises may benefit more broadly when low cost, open, interoperable AI tools are made widely available through digital public infrastructure.[:cite[15]{ln=1}][:cite[15]{ln=4}] ==So, in short: the biggest beneficiaries today are the places, firms, and capital owners that already have adoption, infrastructure, skills, and scale, but AI has the potential to help many more people—especially in developing countries—if it is adapted to local needs and paired with the right complements.== [:cite[3]{ln=1}][:cite[8]{ln=3}][:cite[16]{ln=5}][:cite[16]{ln=6}][:cite[14]{ln=5}]