Big Tech Accelerates AI Data Extraction from Global South

The rapid adoption of AI is reshaping industries and workflows, creating opportunities for some while causing uncertainty and displacement for others as people struggle to find their place in this fast-evolving landscape. Meanwhile, big tech companies are investing hundreds of billions in AI development and infrastructure but are facing significant financial losses, sparking calls for organized resistance and policies prioritizing human oversight and safety. At the same time, concerns about AI's impact extend globally, especially in the Global South, where digital colonialism is emerging as a critical issue; data from developing regions is extracted and used primarily to benefit wealthy tech centers, perpetuating economic and power imbalances. This digital extraction, framed as AI-driven development, is criticized as a new form of colonialism, exploiting behavioral and biometric data without equitable returns or local empowerment. Calls are growing to rethink AI's role and governance to prevent repeating historical patterns of exploitation and to co-design a digital future that is inclusive and fair. The AI revolution thus carries both promise and peril, requiring strategic approaches that address economic, social, and geopolitical dimensions.