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AI Is Creating a New Class Divide — And It’s Not What You Think
Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping global economies and societies, giving rise to a novel form of class division that transcends traditional understandings of income inequality and job displacement. This emerging divide is defined less by wealth alone and more by differential access to AI technologies, opportunities for skill acquisition, and resultant social and economic power within an increasingly automated world.
Beyond Income Inequality: The Emerging AI-Driven Class Stratification
The AI industry is projected to become a multi-trillion-dollar sector, concentrated predominantly in a limited number of countries and corporations. The United Nations has sounded warnings that without deliberate and inclusive policies, the vast benefits of AI advancements will accrue largely to a privileged elite, exacerbating existing global inequalities and marginalizing less diversified economies. This concentration fosters a profound “digital divide,” shaping new social classes through unequal access to AI capabilities, infrastructure, and education.
This new class stratification is reflected not only in job markets but permeates everyday life and civic engagement. Individuals and communities with access to AI tools and digital literacy are…
