Editor’s note: This article is based on insights from a podcast series. The views expressed in the podcast reflect the speakers’ perspectives and do not necessarily represent those of this publication. Readers are encouraged to explore the full podcast for additional context.
There’s a persistent myth in global tech conversations: that innovation is scarce in low- and middle-income countries. On the “Chief AI Officer Podcast,” hosted by Sanjay Puri, Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), dismantles that idea in minutes.
“Human genius is distributed equally, but opportunity isn’t,” Opp says.
In a wide-ranging and thoughtful conversation, the episode explores how artificial intelligence can either deepen global inequality or become one of the most powerful tools for inclusive development the world has ever seen.
Opp’s journey to becoming UNDP’s Chief Digital Officer didn’t start in Silicon Valley. It began in humanitarian and development work, driven by a simple question: How do we make a real difference in people’s lives, faster?
Innovation led him to digital systems, and digital systems inevitably led him to AI. But Opp is clear: technology doesn’t drive transformation people do. For aspiring chief AI officers listening to the podcast, that framing matters. AI is a tool for change, not the source of it.
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Throughout the conversation, Puri presses on what separates effective AI leaders from those who stall at pilot projects. Opp’s answer is refreshingly human.
Great chief AI officers understand organizations, not just algorithms. He said. “…in any company, one of the most important qualities is to really understand how to move the levers of behavior and how to understand organizations that will resist change, because that’s natural that people don’t want to change or resist change.” Their job is to bring people along to show how AI can make work easier, more impactful, and more meaningful.
To illustrate the point, Opp shares a story from his childhood on a Canadian farm, watching his father spend days manually managing seed inventory until a simple spreadsheet did the job in minutes. The lesson? Trust comes from seeing results, not hearing promises.
Across industries, employees fear AI will replace them. Opp reframes, “The issue though, is getting people and employees to the point where they understand, actually, this isn’t a replacement issue, this is an enhancement issue.”
When people experience AI firsthand and see it amplify their capabilities rather than erase them, fear gives way to confidence. Skeptics become advocates. That dynamic, Opp argues, is essential for scaling AI inside any organization.
Citing findings from UNDP’s Human Development Report, Opp highlights a surprising insight: people in low- and middle-income countries are often more optimistic about AI than those in wealthier nations.
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As global frameworks like the UN’s AI governance initiatives take shape, countries still need to act locally and now. On the podcast, Opp explains UNDP’s approach: support nations in crafting AI policies that reflect local realities while staying grounded in human rights, inclusion, and accountability.
That includes investing in representative datasets, low-resource languages, affordable computing infrastructure, and massive capacity-building from lawmakers to everyday citizens.
For companies worried that responsible AI slows them down, Opp offers a counterintuitive argument: inclusion builds trust, and trust builds markets. Ethical AI isn’t a drag on innovation—it’s a long-term growth strategy.
Asked to define responsible AI in a single phrase, Opp doesn’t hesitate, “We, as the United Nations Agency, have at the heart of what we do, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the importance of inclusivity and leaving no one behind.”
It’s a fitting close to a conversation that reframes AI not as a race to dominate but as a chance to build a future that works for everyone.