CLOSING THE DIGITAL AND AI DIVIDE

The digital and AI divide is one of the major barriers to opportunity.

For some people it’s about having poor access to the internet in the first place and the parts of our country that don’t have good broadband. In other cases, people and communities might have access to good broadband but not be able to afford a device or the necessary hardware to work and learn on. They may find it hard to afford the data that’s needed to study or work at home. For other people it’s about a lack of skill-set or lack of confidence with issues such as AI. The digital and AI divide is a gap we have to close if we’re to really enable equality of opportunity. The internet revolution is an opportunity for a level playing field but it also poses a growing inequality threat for those who can’t take advantage or cope in an online world.

Measures:

• Proportion of households with internet access [ONS]

• Percentage of people with digital capability (UK Consumer Digital Index, 2021)

• GCSE or A Level (and equivalent) uptake of STEM subjects by year (DfE)

• Creation of STEM jobs by region (ONS)

These measures have been developed by the Purpose Coalition and in consultation with the Office for National Statistics.