MIT AI Risk Repository · Risk Sub-Category · 60.03.02
Global AI R&D divide
Category: Systemic risks
Description
"Large companies in countries with strong digital infrastructure lead in general- purpose AI R&D, which could lead to an increase in global inequality and dependencies. For example, in 2023, the majority of notable general- purpose AI models (56%) were developed in the US. This disparity exposes many LMICs to risks of dependency and could exacerbate existing inequalities."
From International AI Safety Report 2025 (Bengio2025), as extracted by the MIT AI Risk Repository (CC BY 4.0).
Classification
Subdomain definition: AI-driven concentration of power and resources within certain entities or groups, especially those with access to or ownership of powerful AI systems, leading to inequitable distribution of benefits and increased societal inequality.
Real-world incidents in this subdomain
- LLM Scrapers Allegedly Target Multiple Open Source Projects Disrupting the FOSS Ecosystem
- Coupang Allegedly Tweaked Search Algorithms to Boost Own Products
- Amazon Allegedly Tweaked Search Algorithm to Boost Its Own Products
- Gmail’s Inbox Sorting System Reportedly Reduced Visibility of Political Emails and Campaign Calls-to-Action
- Google Fined for Changing Shopping Algorithms in EU to Favor Own Service
- Amazon India Allegedly Rigged Search Results to Promote Own Products
How other frameworks describe this risk
Other entries from Bengio2025
- Risks from malicious use
- Harm to individuals through fake content
- Harm to individuals through fake content
- Harm to individuals through fake content
- Manipulation of public opinion
- Manipulation of public opinion
- Cyber offence
- Cyber offence
- Cyber offence
- Cyber offence
- Cyber offence
- Biological and chemical attacks