AI inequality could trap developing nations in a “free-tier” loop.
While wealthy countries skyrocket, Anthropic is opening its first Bengaluru office. Their January 2026 Economic Index reveals a brutal disparity: rich nations use Claude for high-value engineering, while the Global South relies on free versions for basic education. As Anthropic expands in India, its second-largest market, the report highlights that without premium access, AI inequality will widen the global income gap faster than any previous technology.
- Anthropic’s first India office officially opens in Bengaluru this month.
- Rich countries see 2x faster AI uptake in professional work sectors.
- Lower-income nations primarily use AI for basic “homework help” tasks.
- CEO Dario Amodei warns 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs are at risk.
- India remains a key battleground for bridging the “Global North-South” AI gap.
👉 Why this matters: If the world’s best AI tools stay behind a paywall, the “digital divide” becomes a permanent economic wall for the next generation.
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Written and summarized by our editorial team using human review & a bit of AI assistance. Edited & Approved by Debraj Paul, Founder of ArticoliNews Media-Tech