Artificial Intelligence and Global Technological Inequality: Impacts on the Digital Sovereignty of Developing Countries

Abstract

Contemporary artificial intelligence (AI) has become a strategic infrastructure that reshapes global dynamics of economic, technological, and political power. This article critically examines the relationship between the technical evolution of AI, current mechanisms of global governance, and the deepening technological inequality faced by developing countries. Using a qualitative documentary approach and critical content analysis, the study explores the historical (2010-2024) transition from symbolic models to the deep learning paradigm, highlighting the mathematical, energetic, and material implications of this shift. The findings reveal that the reliance on large-scale statistical learning and high-performance computational infrastructures creates structural entry barriers that concentrate AI development within a small group of corporations and nations. Furthermore, the paper discusses how the uncritical adoption of AI models trained in the Global North contributes to the erosion of technological and cultural sovereignty in the Global South. The study concludes that existing global governance frameworks are insufficient, as they focus on abstract ethical principles while neglecting the unequal distribution of AI productive capacity, underscoring the need for more inclusive and sovereign-oriented technological development strategies.