The Gates Foundation has raised concerns that artificial intelligence (AI), if not carefully designed, could deepen the divide between wealthy and poor nations. In its 2026 Goalkeepers Report, released this week, the foundation warns that AI systems may struggle to understand languages and conditions in low-income regions. For example, AI speech recognition works with less than 6% error in English, but that rate jumps to over 60% in Yoruba, a language spoken in Nigeria and parts of West Africa. This problem arises because most AI tools are developed using data from wealthier countries, which may not reflect the realities of poorer regions. A system designed for a commercial farmer in the U.S., for instance, may not account for the unique challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and chair of the Gates Foundation, stressed that the next 12 to 18 months will be critical in shaping how AI is built, funded, and used. He said these decisions will determine whether AI becomes a tool for the most vulnerable or remains exclusive to the wealthy. To address this, the foundation is investing at least $1 billion over two years in projects aimed at making AI more accessible. This funding will support areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and digital infrastructure, including the creation of datasets in local languages to improve AI performance in underserved regions. The report acknowledges that AI can also offer significant benefits in tackling global challenges. For example, it has helped improve diagnostic accuracy in Kenyan clinics and enhanced educational outcomes in Sierra Leone and the United States. In India, AI has provided agricultural advice to over 740,000 farmers. However, Gates warned that AI could either be “the greatest equalizer” or “the worst source of injustice,” depending on how it is developed and used. He highlighted risks such as AI being used for fraud, disinformation, surveillance, cyberattacks, and bioterrorism. To ensure AI serves local needs, the Gates Foundation is collaborating with major AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google.org, and Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab. These partnerships are focused on initiatives such as training health workers in Rwanda, accelerating vaccine development, and improving agricultural advice for farmers. The foundation has also pledged $100 million to build datasets in languages spoken by underserved communities. Despite challenges with U.S. foreign aid policies under the Trump administration, the foundation’s CEO, Mark Suzman, said the organization will continue to push for U.S. leadership in global assistance. As the United Nations prepares for high-level meetings on AI governance, concerns remain about the speed of U.N. decision-making compared to the rapid evolution of AI technology.