New York: The progress in global development slowed in 2024, raising concerns that the gains in recent years may be slipping, according to a new UN report released on Tuesday. The report warned that aid reduction under US President Donald Trump would have far-reaching consequences for developing nations.

According to Deutsche Welle, the report heralded the age of artificial intelligence (AI) as offering hope for revitalizing development but cautioned that its benefits must be equitably shared to avoid deepening divides. The report noted that access to AI is limited in poorer countries compared to wealthier ones, and cultural biases may shape how the technology is designed. “High-income countries such as the United States, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Germany, in that order, have well-established digital infrastructures, giving them a major advantage in AI development,” it said, highlighting that the most global investment in AI flowed to the US in 2024, constituting 70.2%. “If we fail to address the inju
stices and divides that persist today, AI will only entrench them further,” Steiner stated.

The report also provided an update on the Human Development Index (HDI) rankings, with Iceland and Norway at the top of the list, while Germany and Sweden shared fifth place. The US was ranked 17th, just below Canada. India and Bangladesh were tied at 130th, with Pakistan at rank 168. Chad, the Central African Republic, Somalia, and South Sudan occupied the last spots, ranking 190th to 193rd.

Of all regions, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa saw the least amount of development. The report assesses progress in three core areas: health and longevity, knowledge, and standard of living.