AI Widens Wealth Gap in Asia, ADB Warns

El Niño and artificial intelligence will deepen the economic divide in developing Asia, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) says. In a new report, the ADB warns that these two forces will slow growth in poorer countries while richer ones move ahead. El Niño is a climate pattern that brings extreme weather, such as droughts and floods. It damages crops and disrupts farming, which many developing Asian economies depend on. Artificial intelligence (AI) — computer systems that perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence — is changing how companies work. But poorer countries often lack the money, skills, and infrastructure to use it. The ADB says this combination could leave weaker economies further behind. The bank urges governments to invest in education, technology, and climate protection to close the gap.