To mark the release of the 2024/2025 Human Development Report (HDR), Dr Diego Salama, Head of Partnerships & Communications sat down with Pedro Conceição, Director of the Human Development Report Office at UNDP, for a wide-ranging conversation about this year’s theme: “A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI "
This year’s report explores how artificial intelligence (AI)—while transformative—must be shaped and governed by collective agency. As Conceição puts it, AI is not just a technical challenge but a social and political one: "We must not cede agency to governments or tech leaders—reclaiming choice is essential to how we harness AI for human development.”
Throughout the discussion, Conceição offered several key reflections:
- AI must be people-centred. Its impact will depend less on the technology itself and more on the institutions, incentives, and governance systems we put in place.
- Inequalities in AI access are shrinking, but asymmetries in power remain. While AI tools like ChatGPT are spreading rapidly—even in low- and middle-income countries—the global governance and training data behind these tools remain concentrated in the Global North. The report calls for a more equitable and inclusive digital infrastructure.
- AI can expand capabilities—but only if used wisely. The report urges governments and educators to view AI not as a replacement for human expertise, but as a complement that enhances productivity, critical thinking, and personalized learning.
- Global cooperation is essential. In the context of UN80 and a shifting multilateral landscape, Conceição emphasized the importance of initiatives like the Global Digital Compact as frameworks for inclusive AI governance.
The conversation also reflected on the role of institutions like UNU-MERIT. As Conceição noted, research from UNU-MERIT has long shaped UNDP thinking—particularly its emphasis on the role of institutions, production systems, and innovation ecosystems in mediating the effects of technology.
You can listen to the full podcast interview here: Watch on YouTube
