In the hands of innovators from the South, AI can transform lives

Fodder cutters are terrifying machines with huge circular blades that rotate at high speed and are powered by small generators. They are managed by rural workers in several developing countries, including India, Pakistan and Kenya, and pose an ongoing risk; many have had their hands or arms amputated after accidents.

The consequences are devastating. Tasks that define daily life – harvesting crops, kneading dough, sewing embroidery – suddenly become impossible. Thousands of women are left with reduced independence, loss of livelihoods and, all too often, social exclusion.

Until recently, advanced prosthetics were far beyond their reach. Now homegrown AI tools are opening the door to the same types of advanced devices available in wealthier countries.

Based on Karachi Bionic technologies collaborated with UN women to design and supply prosthetic limbs specifically tailored to affected female workers in Pakistan’s Sindh province. The initiative used breakthrough technologies – 3D modeling, digital scanning and artificial intelligence – to create lightweight, durable and intuitive bionic arms capable of transforming everyday life.

“Through this partnership, we have offered advanced prosthetic arms, hands-on training, psychological support and awareness sessions to help communities understand safety practices and prevent such injuries in the future,” said Ayesha Zulfiqar, co-founder of Bioniks.

“It was deeply inspiring to see these incredible women regain their mobility, dignity, independence and return to hand embroidery, their main source of income. This is more than technology, it restores hope, confidence and opportunity.”

The India AI Impact Summit: a first for the South

This initiative is a powerful example of what can be achieved when AI is available to innovators in the Global South.

Democratizing AI is a key priority for the United Nations, which wants to ensure that this rapidly evolving technology is developed ethically and benefits people everywhere.

At the India AI Impact Summit, taking place in New Delhi from February 16 to 20, several UN agencies will present the initiatives they are supporting in the country and in developing countries.

The Summit is the first major event of its kind in the South. Building on the momentum of the 2023 AI Safety Summit convened by Britain and the 2025 AI Action Summit in France, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Amandeep Gill, his Special Envoy for Digital and Emerging Technologies, will also attend.

Speaking to author and podcaster Anirudh Suri ahead of the conference, Mr Gill said the UN is focused on bridging the growing ‘AI divide’ (between rich and developing economies, as well as between rich and poor within countries) and making AI more accessible to people around the world.

“The concentration of economic and technological power is our greatest concern at the United Nations,” said Mr Gill. “We’ve seen this story before, during previous industrial revolutions, when those who lacked steam power fell 50 years behind in development. We can’t afford to let that happen again.”

Despite the fears he expressed, Mr Gill pointed to regions that have put plans in place to benefit from AI and avoid being left behind. “I see this in Southeast Asia, in many parts of Africa and in India, where the government is taking the lead and subsidizing access to AI for researchers, developers and smaller companies.”

Although the AI ​​Impact Summit is not a UN event, Mr Gill has been involved in shaping the agenda and sees it as an important moment on the path to international governance. “It is exciting to see the focus on bridging the AI ​​gap, building capacity and engaging citizens in a democratic approach to the technology.”