“The future is already here, it’s just unevenly distributed” - William Gibson 

The above phrase remains as relevant today as it was three decades ago, according to Giulia Vitagliano, a Digital Expert with the Chief Digital Office (CDO) and the UNDP Rome Centre for Climate Action and Energy Transition. The statement reflects a reality that she has observed throughout her career – while digital technology is transforming the world, access to it remains unequal.  

Giulia’s journey into tech and AI was far from traditional. With a background in international affairs and European digital policy, it was literature, not programming, that first got her interested in the power of technology. 

“Reading Orwell’s 1984 made me think about how power and control are exercised through technology,” Giulia explains. “Orwell wasn’t predicting the future, he was describing reality. His warnings about surveillance stuck with me, but instead of fearing technology, I saw it as a tool we can use to uphold democracy, human rights, and a more equitable future.” 

That perspective now drives her work at UNDP, where she helps lead the AI Hub for Sustainable Development, a global initiative launched in September 2024 under the Italian G7 Presidency and funded by the Italian government. The Hub aims to empower developing countries to continue being active participants in shaping and using AI technology, rather than just consumers of it. While AI is expected to contribute US$15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, Giulia points out that only 10 percent of these economic benefits is expected to reach the Global South¹ . 

At the AI Hub, Giulia is collaborating with governments, the private sector and researchers to build the necessary infrastructure for AI-driven sustainable development. The initiative is structured around four main pillars: improving access to data, building local capacity and capability, strengthening green computing resources, and shaping local institutional norms and policies.  

“For AI to work in a way that benefits everyone, we need representative data, local expertise, affordable and sustainable compute, and policies that encourage ethical AI development”, Giulia explains. 

She notes that one of the biggest challenges is data availability, as many African countries lack structured datasets essential for AI development. To address this, Giulia is working with partners to expand access to open, high-quality data while ensuring privacy and security. At the same time, talent development is a key priority. Through partnerships with universities, research institutions, and private companies the Hub is creating training programs, mentorship initiatives, and research partnerships.  

“There’s great momentum in Africa’s digitalization, with increasing investments in local AI ecosystems and a growing pool of young talent. Our goal is to build on this progress and ensure Africa is not left behind in the AI revolution”, Giulia says.