The 2025 Human Development Report, published by the UNDP in June, titled “A Matter of Choice: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI”, examines the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on global human development. It highlights a concerning slowdown in progress, with global Human Development Index (HDI) gains reaching their lowest levels since 1990, excluding the crisis years of 2020–2021.
The report emphasizes that while AI offers significant potential to enhance human capabilities, it also poses risks of deepening inequalities if not managed inclusively. To navigate this pivotal moment, the UNDP advocates for three strategic actions: fostering a complementary economy where humans and AI collaborate, steering innovation to expand human agency, and investing in inclusive education, healthcare, and social protection systems. By centering human choices and freedoms, the report calls for deliberate, people-focused policies to ensure that AI serves as a catalyst for equitable and sustainable development worldwide
