As artificial intelligence (AI) technologies transform society, a new report from the Emerging Insights Lab at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University highlights a critical and growing challenge: the AI digital divide.
“The 2024–2025 Fluency Report: Bridging the AI Digital Divide,” examines the widening gap between individuals and organizations who have access to AI technologies and those who do not. Unlike earlier versions of the digital divide that focused largely on hardware and internet access, the AI divide is deeply tied to disparities in digital literacy, skills development, transparency and institutional investment.
“AI holds tremendous potential—but that potential will remain out of reach for many unless we address systemic gaps in education, access and training,” said Dr. Regina Luttrell, a co-author of the report with Dr. Jason Davis, along with research team members Carrie Welch G’24 and master’s student Chris Fiegel.
“Bridging the divide isn’t just about technology. It’s about building a future where everyone can engage with, question and benefit from AI tools in meaningful ways,” Luttrell said. The senior associate dean at the Newhouse School, Luttrell is also co-director of the Emerging Insights Lab with Davis.
Using a combination of critical media analysis and empirical evaluation of AI detection tools, the team explored how structural inequities, individual skill gaps and the “black box” nature of AI models contribute to the growing disparity. The report also highlights how improved transparency, attribution and human-centered AI practices could help close the gap—especially in fields like journalism and education.
“Without equitable access to AI literacy and detection technologies, we risk widening the gap between those who can critically navigate synthetic media and those who cannot,” said Davis, a research professor. “Investing in transparency and training is essential to protecting digital trust and supporting democratic institutions.”
The report emphasizes that as AI systems become more sophisticated, industries must prioritize digital and AI literacy, invest in equitable access to detection tools and design more transparent systems. These steps are critical for fostering technological innovation and ensuring that the benefits of AI are distributed fairly across society.