Unequal Access to Artificial Intelligence Tools: An Emerging Economic Barrier
As leading generative AI platforms (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude, among others) establish their business models, there is a clear trend towards segregating users into free and premium (paid) versions. Free versions, while useful for initial exploration, come with significant limitations in capabilities, speed, usage volume, access to advanced tools (like web browsing or document creation), and personalization options.
This model, though understandable from a commercial standpoint, introduces a real and structural economic barrier that restricts full access to the most powerful AI functionalities to those individuals or organizations that can afford to pay. In contexts such as vocational training, public education, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), or vulnerable groups, this barrier can lead to a new form of digital exclusion: not due to lack of infrastructure or skills, but because of the inability to access advanced levels of interaction and productivity that AI can offer.
Consequently, democratization of AI access cannot be taken for granted. Unlike other ethical risks (e.g., misuse, algorithmic bias, misinformation), which may materialize gradually or in specific sectors, economic exclusion is already happening, directly affecting the possibility for large parts of society to benefit from AI’s transformative capabilities.
From this perspective, the #AISA project positions itself as an inclusive response, providing training, resources, and learning environments that integrate both open tools and sustainable strategies for accessing advanced services, with a strong focus on equity, digital empowerment, and reducing inequalities.
