The wealth gap between the ultra-rich and the global poor has reached the highest level ever recorded [1, 2, 3].

This disparity represents a critical systemic failure that affects global stability and access to emerging technologies. As wealth concentrates among a tiny elite, the divide manifests not only in financial assets but in the ability of different populations to utilize tools like artificial intelligence.

Historical processes have driven this concentration of wealth. Factors including early state formation, global trade, neoliberal policies, industrialization, and slavery have collectively shifted resources toward a small minority [1]. Recent analyses from Oxfam said that the ultra-rich continue to accumulate wealth at a rapid pace [2].

This inequality is increasingly visible in the digital divide. Data from the first quarter of 2026 shows that 27.5% of 15- to 64-year-olds in Northern countries use generative AI tools [4]. In contrast, only 15.4% of the same age group in Southern countries use these tools [5].

This technological gap is widening. The difference in AI usage between Northern and Southern nations rose by 1.5 percentage points compared with the second half of 2025 [6].

Market volatility in precious metals has also been noted earlier this year. The price of silver reached 105.07 euros per ounce on Jan. 29 [7], before dropping to 62.30 euros on Feb. 17 [8] and settling at 71.23 euros on March 4 [9].

“The wealth gap between the ultra-rich and the global poor has reached the highest level ever recorded”

The convergence of record financial inequality and a growing 'AI divide' suggests that technological advancement may exacerbate existing social stratifications. When the tools for productivity and economic growth are concentrated in wealthier nations, the historical cycle of wealth accumulation is likely to accelerate, making it harder for developing economies to close the gap through innovation alone.