The New Empire of AI

Name: The New Empire of AI
Price: 26.95 AUD
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ISBN: 9781509553105

The Future of Global Inequality

Rachel Adams (Columbia University)

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English

Polity Press
18 April 2026

Sociology & anthropology

As AI takes hold across the planet and wealthy nations seek to position themselves as global leaders of this new technology, the gap is widening between those who benefit from it and those who are subjugated by it. As Rachel Adams shows in this hard-hitting book, growing inequality is the single biggest threat to the transformative potential of AI. Not only is AI built on an unequal global system of power, it stands poised to entrench existing inequities, further consolidating a new age of empire.

AI’s impact on inequality will not be experienced in poorer countries only: it will be felt everywhere. The effects will be seen in an intensification of international migration, as opportunities increasingly concentrate in the hands of wealthier nations; in heightened political instability and populist politics; and in climate-related disasters caused by an industry that is blind to its environmental impact across supply chains.

We need to act now to address these issues. Only if the current inequitable trajectory of AI is halted, the incentives changed, and the production and use of AI decentralized and decoupled from wealthier nations will AI be able to deliver on its promise to build a better world for all.

Also available as an audiobook

By: Rachel Adams (Columbia University)
Imprint: Polity Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 213mm, Width: 137mm, Spine: 20mm
Weight: 295g
ISBN: 9781509553105
ISBN 10: 150955310X
Pages: 224
Publication Date: 18 April 2026
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Prologue Introduction: The AI Divide Chapter 1: A New World Order Chapter 2: The Cost of AI Chapter 3: The Material World of AI Chapter 4: The New Division of Labour Chapter 5: Fit For What Purpose? Chapter 6: One Language to Rule Them All Chapter 7: The Way Out Coda: The New Politics of Revolution Key Readings

Rachel Adams is the CEO and founder of the Global Center on AI Governance. She lives in Cape Town with her husband and their four children.

Reviews for The New Empire of AI: The Future of Global Inequality

""Incisive and alarming, The New Empire of AI lays bare the human and environmental costs of our AI-driven world. Adams deftly weaves together history, economics and ethics to reveal the troubling parallels between AI's rise and historical patterns of exploitation. Essential reading for anyone concerned with technology's role in shaping our global inequities and future justice."" Chen Qiufan, author of AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future ""This book captures the profound impact of AI on society, particularly for the global majority outside the West. Adams puts our current discontent in the context of our histories and shared hopes for the future. It's a powerful reminder that the time for change was yesterday; now is a close second!"" Vukosi Marivate, University of Pretoria ""A must read, if you want to understand the implications of AI for the Global South!"" Urvashi Aneja, Founding Director of Digital Futures Lab ""Ultimately, Adams paints a troubling picture: AI is not the great equaliser, but rather a new empire in the making – one that could lock poorer societies into cycles of exploitation and poverty."" The Parliament Magazine