Driving digital inclusion in the age of AI

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and capabilities is truly transforming businesses worldwide. But is it advancing faster than we can manage? Do we have the skills in enough AI disciplines globally to really benefit? 

Statistics suggest we do not. Some 90% of people in Africa lack digital skills, according to a recent report by UNESCO. In sub-Saharan Africa, for every 100 men with spreadsheet skills, only 40-44 women have the same proficiency, and women make up just 35% of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduates globally.  

Closer to home, 44% of European citizens are also lacking digital literacy. And that statistic is both old and young people, with rural areas and those in poverty more acutely affected. 

While the ICT industry and the corporate world drive the advancement and adoption of digital technologies, there is a danger of leaving a large and diverse portion of the population behind — places where infrastructure has not reached, or is simply unviable. 

However, there are companies, organizations, government bodies, and local initiatives looking to bring digital skills to rural, remote, or otherwise forgotten communities. And it is a simple case of driving to them.

A truckload of digital skills 

Close the Gap is a Brussels-based international NGO that refurbishes cargo trucks into mobile classrooms for digital education. Founder and CEO Oliver Vanden Eynde calls them “DigiTrucks,” but there’s more to them than that. They’re solar-powered classrooms, converted from shipping containers, that are durable enough to reach where they're needed most, serving communities that traditional classrooms can't. 

Each truck is equipped with 20 laptops, 20 VR headsets, and built-in Wi-Fi, and serves as a temporary digital school. It offers free classes, resources, and materials, with courses running for up to a month, expanding digital literacy for everyone who comes aboard. The program started 23 years ago, operating out of Belgium, with projects in eastern Africa that initially focused only on the hardware gap. 

“We had quite a lot of projects that were on the border of society, because of wars and because of droughts,” Vanden Eynde says. “And building infrastructure there was technically impossible. By the time it would be there, the ecosystem might have changed. And that is where the idea of the DigiTruck came from.

“We built a facility on wheels that is completely autonomous, has all the environmentally friendly aspects, and is built so that it can move to where the digital skills are needed.” 

Since 2019, Huawei has partnered with Close the Gap, bringing its “Skills on Wheels” program to over 130,000 people in 21 countries, opening new opportunities for underserved communities.

“It’s thanks to the program we have with Huawei that we have been able to exponentially grow the number of DigiTrucks throughout the continent,” Vanden Eynde says.

In many cases, students in countries such as Ethiopia have their first experience of a device like a phone or a tablet through the trucks. There are already many success stories: women launching smartphone businesses in Kenya, remote farmers going digital, and a retired chef reconnecting with people online.

Corporate social responsibility in the community 

The work of Huawei and Close the Gap was proudly shown at Huawei’s TECH Cares forum in Barcelona, where it also announced that it has provided digital connectivity to 170 million people in remote areas across more than 80 countries. This exceeds its original pledge of 120 million, made to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Partner2Connect Digital Coalition in 2022.

The forum brought together representatives from governments, partner organizations, and international bodies to discuss the urgent need to advance digital inclusion in the AI era.

One of those representatives was Cosmas Zavazava, the director of the ITU’s telecommunication development bureau. He used his speech at TECH Cares to commend Huawei’s achievements and work to bridge the digital divide. 

“Connecting the rural and underserved communities requires innovative business models, inclusivity, and the effective use of communication resources, as well as community engagement, and sustained investment in local capacity,” Zavazava says.

“I applaud Huawei’s commitment to universal and meaningful connectivity, and I am proud of our strong and successful partnership.”

For Zavazava, the digital divide remains one of the defining challenges of our time. Though he is hopeful that the AI era can offer life-changing opportunities for individuals, communities, and entire economies, this can only happen if people can actually access the technology. 

“We have to unmask technology and stop talking about algorithms,” Zavazava says.

“We have to talk about the applications of technology for change. When connectivity is present, inclusive and sustainable development becomes possible”.  

Speaking at the TECH Cares forum, Yang Chaobin, CEO of Huawei ICT BG, noted that despite rapid AI advancements, the digital divide persists and is widening.

“High-speed networks and robust computing facilities are essential foundations for an inclusive and sustainable AI era,” he said. 

He added that fulfillment of the ITU P2C pledge reflected Huawei’s ongoing commitment to innovation and bringing remote communities improved access to healthcare, education, and financial services through digital connectivity.

According to Huawei’s President of Public Affairs and Communications, Jeff Wang, digital inclusion rests on two pillars: inclusive connectivity and the empowerment of digital skills. He said, “To bridge the digital skills gap, Huawei works closely with governments and partners to enhance digital access, deliver skills training, and advance STEM education for underserved communities.”

There is still much to do, though Huawei pledges to continue driving innovation in rural network technologies, seek more open collaboration, and accelerate digital skills empowerment. The aim is a more equitable and sustainable digital world, which will only be achieved through concrete actions.