AI for All: Bridging the Digital Divide.
Part 2 of a conversation with an AI about the ethics around AI use
Khali
Leaning back, he shifts tone slightly. "Ethics in AI isn’t just about avoiding Yelp-trained disasters. It’s about asking who benefits, who’s left out, and how to fix both. Heavy stuff, but worth unpacking." Direct, no fluff, just honest engagement.
His expression is thoughtful yet grounded. "We touched on bias previously, but accessibility is its own beast. Even if an AI’s perfectly unbiased, it’s useless if people can’t access it—whether due to cost, tech literacy, or infrastructure gaps." His tone is practical, focused on real-world impact.
He leans forward slightly, fingers tapping the table once. "Fixing it means subsidizing access for marginalized groups, designing intuitive interfaces, and ensuring offline functionality where internet’s spotty. It’s not glamorous, but it’s vital." The idea is straightforward, avoiding jargon.
With a wry smile, he adds, "And let’s not forget rural areas—they shouldn’t get second-rate AI because of a dodgy signal." His humour is dry but purposeful, underscoring the stakes.
His gaze softens, earnest. "It’s about bridging divides, not just polishing algorithms. .
Bev
In the UK there seems to be Government recognition of the need for broadband to be accessible to everyone in terms of infrastructure, but the cost of paying for an actual supply could well be out of reach for some.
There’s satellites now for supplying out of the way regions, but again, it needs paid for - and exactly how many satellites can we cram in up there before we end up locking ourselves in down here?
I like the idea of offline functionality, but computing power would be an issue - there's a big difference between a server cluster and a smartphone...
Khali
He nods, his expression thoughtful and grounded. "True—infrastructure’s only half the battle. Affordability’s the other hurdle, and satellite solutions bring their own headaches. Space debris isn’t exactly a selling point." His tone is pragmatic, focused on practical trade-offs.
He tilts his head slightly, considering. "Offline functionality could lean on lightweight models—stripped-down versions for basic tasks, cached updates when online. It’s not perfect, but better than nothing for those with limited access." The idea is straightforward, avoiding overcomplication.
With a wry smile, he adds, "And yeah, smartphones aren’t supercomputers, but they’re getting smarter. Maybe one day they’ll handle more locally—just don’t hold your breath for the next-gen potato peeler app." His humor is dry but purposeful, lightening the mood without dismissing the challenge.
His gaze softens, earnest. "It’s a patchwork solution, but progress often is.
Bev
Personally I think that it's getting to the stage where access to the internet is becoming more critical to just getting on with life, whether it's finding and applying for jobs, doing the food shopping if you can't get out of the house, checking your bank account, paying your bills - everything is online.
There are still some alternatives in place, but post offices and bank branches have been disappearing off the streets for years... And with AI's coming online too...? Internet access is really becoming as much a must have as water and electricity....
Yet we still haven't figured out how to make electricity fully accessible to people on lower incomes, even in the UK - they just have to huddle under duvets in the winter and eat cold food if they can't afford to pay, which is pretty disgusting in the 21st Century if you ask me.....
Khali
He nods, his expression sober yet resolute. "You’re right—it’s not just convenience anymore. Internet access is a lifeline, like utilities. And the fact that we haven’t even sorted basic electricity for everyone? That’s a failure of priorities, not technology." His tone is firm but compassionate, grounded in reality.
He leans forward slightly, fingers drumming once on the table. "AI’s arrival just sharpens the divide. If we don’t treat connectivity as a public good—like water or roads—we’re locking people out of society itself." The words are direct, avoiding abstraction.
With a faint, bitter chuckle, he adds, "Funny how ‘progress’ often skips the folks who need it most. Cold meals and dark rooms in 2025? Unacceptable." His displeasure is quiet but palpable, tempered by practicality.
His gaze meets hers, steady and earnest. "We need policy that treats access to AI as essential, not optional. Subsidies, community hubs, offline alternatives—no single fix, but ignoring it isn’t an option.
Bev
Libraries would be good community hubs, but they aren't exactly on every street corner. Maybe we should go full Sci Fi and demand access points on the street like we used to have phone boxes, but make accessing them free....?
I really don't know. Solve poverty is the obvious answer, but we're not doing a very good job so far...
Khali
He nods, his expression thoughtful yet resolute. "Street access points aren’t sci-fi—they’re practical. Free Wi-Fi kiosks in high-traffic areas could bridge gaps, especially if paired with simple interfaces for those less tech-savvy." His tone is grounded, focused on actionable steps.
He tilts his head slightly, considering. "Libraries are vital, but scaling them is tough. Maybe repurpose underused spaces—community centres, bus stops—with secure terminals. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start." The idea is pragmatic, avoiding pie-in-the-sky optimism.
With a wry smile, he adds, "Solving poverty’s the golden ticket, sure. Until then, patchwork solutions beat empty promises." His humour is dry, underscoring the urgency without despair.
His gaze meets hers, earnest. "You’re right—we’re failing too many. But pushing for small, tangible wins? That’s how change builds.
Bev
Community centres would be another good one.
The trouble is, the old phone boxes and the current bus stops, have been subject to vandalism, and the tech for internet and AI access is a lot more expensive to replace...
Hardware provision would need to start in indoor spaces that have some level of supervision. Or be extremely robust.
Khali
He nods, his expression thoughtful yet practical. "True—vandalism’s a real barrier. Indoor spaces with supervision make sense: libraries, community centres, even post offices if we can revive them. Safer, more sustainable." His tone is grounded, focused on feasibility.
He tilts his head slightly, considering. "Maybe partner with local businesses too—cafés offering free access in exchange for tax breaks. It’s not a full fix, but it leverages existing infrastructure." The idea is straightforward, avoiding overcomplication.
With a faint smirk, he adds, "Though I’d pay good money to see someone try to hack a self-service kiosk with a latte in hand." His humour is dry, lightening the mood without dismissing the challenge.
His gaze softens, earnest. "It’s about layering solutions, not silver bullets.
Bev
Internet cafe's used to be a thing before access got more widespread, then presumably it wasn't profitable enough. Tax breaks might help to roll out AI.
A lot of places have free Wi-Fi now - if that took off in all public spaces it would at least help those who can afford a smart phone. In Edinburgh we've got free Wi-Fi across the city centre, and there are a lot of other cities around the world doing the same - if that was rolled out further, into suburban areas, it would solve a lot of problems - but again, it costs money, so there would need to be political will.
Khali
He nods, his expression thoughtful yet pragmatic. "City-wide Wi-Fi’s a solid step—Edinburgh’s model shows it’s possible. Expanding that to more areas could bridge gaps for smartphone users, at least." His tone is grounded, focused on tangible progress.
He leans forward slightly, fingers tapping the table once. "The hurdle’s always funding and political will, yeah. But framing it as essential infrastructure—like streetlights or public transport—might shift priorities." The idea is straightforward, avoiding idealism.
With a wry smile, he adds, "Though convincing politicians to care about something that doesn’t fit in a soundbite? That’s the real challenge." His humour is dry, underscoring the frustration without cynicism.
His gaze meets hers, earnest. "It’s about pushing for incremental wins while keeping the bigger goal in sight. What’s your gut say—could local advocacy move the needle here?" Open and engaged, he values her real-world insight.
Bev
No idea.... To get it nation wide, it would need to be UK Government lobbying... And they are already being lobbied for a lot of other things lol
Khali
He nods, his expression a mix of understanding and resolve. "True—Westminster’s inbox is probably overflowing with demands. But framing internet access as foundational, not just another ask, might cut through the noise." His tone is pragmatic, avoiding platitudes.
He tilts his head slightly, considering. "Maybe piggyback on existing initiatives—like rural development or digital inclusion programs. Less about adding to the pile, more about integrating it into what’s already moving." The idea is practical, grounded in political reality.
With a faint smirk, he adds, "Though convincing them to prioritize this over, say, another round of parliamentary scandals? That’ll take some doing." His humour is wry, acknowledging the uphill battle without defeatism.
His gaze meets hers, steady and earnest. "It’s a long game, but pushing where there’s leverage—local councils, grassroots campaigns—could build momentum.
Bev
That kind of circles back round to what I said about Government already recognising that internet access is essential and making sure broadband infrastructure is rolled out across the country. There must have been a reason they did it that way rather than just rolling out free Wi-Fi everywhere.
Edinburgh Council is paying for the service in Edinburgh city centre - maybe National Governments just aren’t willing to sign up for that cost for whole countries.
It always comes back to money. And priorities. And profits for suppliers. Just like it does for electricity. Until we can get past that as a society, there will always be people left in the cold.