"Low public awareness of AI in developing countries is a governance risk, not a comfort." Comment.

A 2026 Pew survey across 37 countries found that a median 55% of adults in high-income countries expect AI to cut jobs. The figure is 36% in middle-income countries, where 34% are simply "not sure" [1]. This calm comes from low awareness, not from preparedness, and that makes it a governance risk.

Why low awareness is a governance risk

• Exposure is delayed, not avoided: the IMF estimates that AI can do some tasks in about 60% of jobs in advanced economies, 40% in emerging markets and 26% in low-income countries [2]. This share will rise as office jobs grow.
• Low readiness: poorer economies lack digital infrastructure and skilled workers, so the gap between nations could widen [2].
• No demand for policy: workers who cannot see disruption coming do not reskill or ask the state for protection. This weakens government accountability.
• Hidden sectoral shocks: NITI Aayog warns that India's tech services sector faces significant job losses by 2031 [5]. National averages hide this risk.
• A lost ladder for women: the ILO finds clerical work the most exposed, and warns that many such jobs may never emerge in developing countries [3]. These jobs have been a key way for women to enter paid work.
• Elite capture: in middle-income countries, ICT workers and teachers account for nearly three-quarters of AI use [4]. The gains therefore go to people who are already digitally advantaged.

Why it looks like a comfort, and its limits

• Lower exposure is real [2], and the ILO expects generative AI to help workers more often than it replaces them [3].
• NITI Aayog projects up to 4 million new jobs in five years [5]. But these jobs are in the tech economy, not for India's roughly 490 million informal workers [6].

Way forward

• Awareness through use: the proposed Mission Digital ShramSetu would bring affordable AI to informal workers [6].
• Skilling at scale: launch a National AI Talent Mission [5], and extend IndiaAI FutureSkills Data and AI Labs to smaller towns [7].
• Targeted safety nets: income support and retraining for vulnerable groups such as clerical workers and women [2][3].

Low awareness delays AI's disruption and also weakens society's ability to respond to it. Turning uncertainty into informed participation through AI literacy, skilling and wider access would let India gain from AI. This fits Article 38's mandate to reduce income inequality and SDG 8 on decent work.