Strategic Imperative: Why AI Inclusion Must Precede Innovation in Global Development

In a critical analysis of artificial intelligence's trajectory, Mitul Thapliyal, Managing Partner at MicroSave Consulting, asserts that prioritizing AI inclusion over pure innovation represents a fundamental strategic shift for sustainable global development. This intelligence assessment identifies that while technological advancement continues at an unprecedented pace, the widening accessibility gap threatens to exacerbate existing socioeconomic disparities. The report emphasizes that without deliberate inclusion frameworks, AI innovation risks becoming an exclusive domain, potentially deepening digital divides rather than bridging them. Thapliyal's analysis suggests that organizations and governments must recalibrate their AI strategies to prioritize equitable access, ethical deployment, and diverse representation in development processes. The assessment concludes that true technological progress will be measured not by computational breakthroughs alone, but by AI's capacity to empower marginalized communities, enhance public services, and create inclusive economic opportunities. This paradigm shift from innovation-centric to inclusion-first approaches may determine whether artificial intelligence becomes a tool for universal advancement or an accelerator of inequality.