New Zealand Founder Calls for Urgent Action as 96% of the World Remains Out of AI
Amanda Jeffs, Founder of SHE IS AI, warns that AI adoption is just 4% globally and New Zealand has a unique chance to lead inclusively. But they must act now or risk being left behind.
Global AI adoption sits at just over 4%. That means basically 96% of the world is not part of what’s being called the “AI revolution.”
For Amanda Jeffs, Founder & CEO of SHE IS AI, that statistic is more than a number. It’s a call to action.
I know it’s early days but the time for moulding AI is closing. If we don’t act, we risk building a future where the same privileged voices dominate while billions are left behind.
From New Zealand, we have a unique vantage point. We may be far from Silicon Valley, but that distance gives us clarity: if AI is to work for the world, it must be inclusive, sustainable, and ethical.
The AI revolution is here, but most of the world isn’t yet part of it,” Jeffs says. “If we don’t act now, the same privileged voices will dominate while billions are left behind.
According to Jeffs, adoption so far reflects inequality:
The Global South, and women, are being excluded from AI adoption. The digital divide can grow exponentially or we can flatten that curve.
AI’s energy demands are already straining fragile systems. (At 4%! Imagine the challenge when this number rises!)
New Zealand can lead differently, by embedding ethics, education, and sustainability into adoption.
From New Zealand’s vantage point, Amanda Jeffs believes the country has a responsibility to lead differently. “We’ve always punched above our weight when we choose to lead with values,” she says. “With AI, we can model inclusivity, sustainability, and ethics on the world stage.”
Key opportunities for Aotearoa include:
AI literacy and reskilling programmes for women, youth, Māori, and Pasifika communities.
Sustainable infrastructure powered by renewable energy.
Global collaborations that prioritise equity alongside innovation.
This is also the foundation of SHE IS AI, which has grown from New Zealand into a network of 110 ambassadors, 150+ experts, and nearly 3k members across 28 countries.
The initiative includes a community, digital magazine, education hubs in underserved regions, an international expert agency, and events showcasing women-led AI leadership.
“AI can either entrench inequality or help us build a fairer, more sustainable world,” Amanda Jeffs says. “The difference will come down to the decisions we make now.”
For her, the award-winning work of SHE IS AI is proof that small nations can create global impact. “From the edge of the world, we’re showing that inclusive, women-led models are the future of AI. And we’re just getting started.”
The question isn’t whether to use AI. It’s how.
