Digital Inequality in the Age of AI: Inequality of Access and Technology Literacy between Urban and Rural Communities in Southeast Asia
Sukma Hendrian · International Journal of Social Research · 2025
Southeast Asia is experiencing accelerated digital economy growth and artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, yet significant inequalities persist in access and technology literacy between urban and rural communities.This disparity widens the digital divide, limiting educational access, public services, and economic opportunities while affecting AI readiness.This study measures internet access and digital literacy disparities, evaluates AI literacy preparedness, identifies inequality drivers, and formulates policy recommendations for AI-based digital inclusion.Using mixed methods, quantitative analysis surveyed 1,000 respondents across five ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines), while qualitative analysis employed in-depth interviews and field observations.Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression for quantitative data, with thematic analysis for qualitative data.Results reveal significant urban-rural disparities: urban areas show 90% internet penetration, 80% high-speed access, and superior digital and AI literacy, while rural areas demonstrate 55% internet penetration, 30% high-speed access, and substantially lower literacy levels.Key factors include infrastructure limitations, access costs, fragmented policies, and low technological literacy.This research uniquely integrates AI literacy assessment within the three-level digital divide framework, providing empirical evidence of urban-rural disparities across multiple Southeast Asian countries and offering actionable recommendations for inclusive digital development.