Why the emphasis on inclusive development and prosperity?

THE Al-driven 4IR presents an unprecedented and unique opportunity for the Global South to exert its influence, assume agency, actively participate, and leverage technology to achieve inclusive development and shared prosperity.

- ARTHUR G.O. MUTAMBARA

The Global South refers to a socio-economic and geopolitical concept rather than a precise geographical location. It describes emerging economies and countries that are least industrialised.

Consequently, the Global South is also known as the developing world or as a grouping of developing economies. The Global South broadly comprises Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia (excluding Israel, Japan, and South Korea), and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand).

The Global North includes North America, Europe, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand. The world’s highly industrialised countries constitute the Global North, whereas the Global South comprises emerging and least industrialised economies.

Comparing the populations of the Global South and Global North, it is evident that there are more people in the former than the latter. Hence, the term Global Majority is sometimes used instead of Global South.

The phrase Global Majority has the utility of emphasising the primacy, centrality, and importance of the demands, aspirations, and ambitions of the Global South ahead of those of the Global North - the Global Minority.

Development is often associated with progress in areas such as income, education, health, human rights, and industrialisation.

The objective is to improve a population's standard of living through factors such as wealth creation and distribution, social differentiation, industrial transformation, and economic growth. AI can play a critical role in achieving such ambitions and aspirations.