There was a time when the Global South stood on the sidelines of the digital revolution—watching from a distance as Artificial Intelligence transformed industries, redefined economies, and reshaped daily life in more technologically advanced regions. But that narrative is changing.
As outlined in the CFTE AI Literacy Whitepaper (v0.3 – 2025), AI is no longer just a technical tool—it is an enabler that touches ethical, social, and operational dimensions. It is now considered a core skill for the workforce, akin to digital literacy. But how can this transformation be realized in regions still struggling with fundamental digital access?
This is a story of _rags to relevance_. Countries once grappling with digital deserts are cultivating innovation gardens—powered not by abundance, but by resourcefulness, community, and vision. This is the Global South’s journey—from being underserved to being unstoppable.
In places where internet access is patchy and devices are scarce, AI literacy begins not in classrooms, but in community halls, village squares, and over mobile networks. Access is the first frontier. Many countries are now taking bold steps to overcome it. Rwanda, for instance, trained young “Digital Ambassadors” who travel to remote areas to teach communities how to use digital tools, including introductory AI applications. What began as a grassroots initiative is now sparking new mindsets in previously disconnected regions.
Once basic access is possible, the next leap is confidence—teaching people how AI works through relatable examples and everyday tools. In India, the “Responsible AI for Youth” initiative introduces high school students in rural areas to chatbot building and AI ethics. Over 50,000 students have not only gained technical skills but also the belief that AI is not just for the elite. By learning to question, explore, and apply AI in local contexts, they are breaking traditional barriers of access and aspiration.
But technical understanding alone is not enough. With foundational skills in place, ethical reflection becomes crucial. Many Global South nations experience both the promise and peril of AI simultaneously—automation risks, data misuse, algorithmic bias. In Brazil, forums on AI ethics have created a space for cross-sector dialogue, helping shape national strategies that reflect local values and protect vulnerable communities. These conversations remind us that AI must be guided by collective responsibility.
AI literacy must also be adapted based on roles in society. Not everyone needs to build AI systems, but most will need to use them thoughtfully. Students and teachers can integrate AI projects into learning; MSMEs and informal workers can use AI to enhance productivity; public officials can make informed decisions from data insights; while executives and media professionals shape public narratives around AI. Indonesia’s government, for example, is training civil servants in AI governance and ethics, demonstrating that digital leadership must begin from within public institutions.
Yet beyond usage, the Global South must also strive to create its own AI innovations. Local AI development—including Large Language Models (LLMs) in native languages, and domain-specific AI solutions tailored to agriculture, disaster resilience, informal economies, or public health—is not just desirable, but essential. Building LLMs in local languages is a form of cultural preservation: it safeguards linguistic diversity, protects local wisdom, and ensures that valuable indigenous knowledge systems do not vanish in the wake of technological homogenization. These models become vessels for unique ways of thinking, traditional expressions, and problem-solving approaches deeply rooted in local experiences. Who better understands the needs of a rural community in Java or a fishing village in Ghana than the people who live there? By investing in localized AI research and fostering indigenous innovation, these regions can ensure AI development truly aligns with context, culture, and community values—while also asserting their voice in shaping the global digital future.
Encouraging examples are emerging. In Indonesia, researchers have begun developing Bahasa-based AI models for educational tools. In South Africa, data scientists are building machine learning models to detect crop disease in local plantations. These efforts show that the Global South need not wait for solutions from elsewhere—it can lead its own way forward, using AI that is born of its own realities. More importantly, the creation of local LLMs also becomes a way to assert digital sovereignty and cultural continuity. In many communities, oral traditions, indigenous knowledge, and linguistic nuances are not well-documented and risk being erased by globalized AI systems that prioritize dominant languages and worldviews. Preserving these through AI means preserving pluralism in how humanity thinks, solves problems, and remembers its past.
No country can succeed in isolation. That’s where the power of collaboration comes in. Equally important is ensuring that women and marginalized groups are actively included in the design, implementation, and leadership of AI literacy programs—so that inclusion is not just a principle, but a practice. A penta-helix ecosystem—linking government, academia, industry, media, and civil society—can accelerate inclusive AI literacy. Kenya’s Ajira Digital Program, which equips youth with AI and digital work skills through a multi-stakeholder approach, illustrates how partnerships can scale impact, build trust, and ensure no one is left behind.
Of course, challenges remain. Infrastructure gaps, limited budgets, and fear of job loss all pose real barriers. Yet, innovation thrives under constraint. Ensuring inclusivity must also address gender and marginalized communities—especially women, persons with disabilities, and rural youth—so that AI literacy does not widen the gap but actively narrows it. Solutions such as mobile-first, low-bandwidth training platforms and local train-the-trainer programs are already proving effective. Instead of fearing AI, the narrative is shifting toward embracing it—with caution, clarity, and creativity.
This is not just about catching up. It’s about creating a future on our own terms. AI literacy in the Global South is a lever for equity, creativity, and transformation. With the right mindset and collaboration, what was once considered the digital periphery can become the innovation core. Because the next big leap in AI won’t just come from the labs of the Global North—it might just rise from a school in Surabaya, a youth hub in Nairobi, or a village in Kigali.
The journey continues, powered by trust, learning, and resilience. What starts as a small spark of AI understanding can ignite a movement—one that redefines what’s possible for billions of people across the Global South.