The AI digital divide is very much a real phenomenon and not really a key digital technology trend that too many Fintech industry professionals are even talking about (as they should be). With global AI adoption surging dramatically across countries and jurisdictions, we have all seen vast improvements in how financial services are carried out, how businesses operate, and even how school curriculum is developed. But for many, the AI digital divide will pose considerable challenges and might not be something they can actually benefit from.
Currently, almost anyone with Internet access and a smart phone can access a range of AI tools such as Gemini, Grok, ChatGPT. However, the vast majority of consumers and businesses are not properly trained to use these tools effectively. Writing proper prompts for AI takes a lot of time, practice, and effort. And quite frankly, most people do not have the time or patience to craft useful prompts.
At its most fundamental level, AI is not “smart” in the conventional (human) sense, so we have to tell it exactly what to do and what we want by writing very specific and detailed prompts. And if we do not learn how to do this properly, then the output generated by these AI tools is not only NOT meaningful but it can even be damaging.
To understand how AI works, we must first understand how computers actually function. At their core, a computer only does one thing but really, really fast: they add and subtract incredibly fast and any other functionality built on top with computer code is merely an abstraction.
So for AI tools like Grok and Gemini to actually be useful for any kind of activity, such as financial services related research, or guiding everyday decision-making and spending for businesses, the users of these digital tools must be well versed in how to competently use them.
In 2026, we have a range of free or very affordable AI tools that should have vastly improved key business and even educational processes. But most people are at the wrong of the AI digital divide. The majority of individuals lack basic reading and comprehension skills which have been at an all-time low not just in the United States but globally.
People now have very short attention spans thanks to smartphones and other forms of superficial digital interactions. And while we have a very large number of AI tools that are more accessible than before in the history of humanity, we are getting further and further away from the truth. The rise of misinformation and disinformation in the AI age is harming members of society on an unprecedented scale.
For AI adoption to be truly effective, all businesses including Fintechs, insurance providers, educational and financial institutions must all learn to properly use AI prompts. Only when there will be real awareness of how AI algorithms work will there be real adoption that can drive innovation and the overall advancement of society.
Until this happens, the ongoing AI digital divide will further isolate many members of our globalized population, potentially leading to many more people exiting or remaining excluded from the formal economy.