Since 1990, UNDP has been producing its annual flagship Human Development Report (HDR) providing a comprehensive analysis of global human development trends, as captured in key indices, such as the Human Development Index (HDI), the Gender Inequality Index (GII), or the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), and putting focus on key topical issues for sustainable human development. 

The 2025 Human Development Report focuses on harnessing the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advance human development. As argued in the report, AI is opening many possibilities and choices for people. Rather than predicting the future, the report focuses on what choices we need to make to expand human development in the age of AI. The report urges us to move beyond the notion of a fixed technological path. Artificial intelligence holds both promise and risks for human development, but what matters is not to try to predict the future, but to shape it in ways that expand human development. Based on these findings, the report identifies three areas of action to help AI support human development:

1. Building a complementarity economy – Instead of replacing humans, AI should work alongside them. Policies should encourage people and AI to collaborate, boosting productivity and supporting decent work. That means using AI in ways that create positive spillovers across the economy, helping workers adapt, and ensuring no one is left behind.
2. Guiding innovation with intent – AI should be harnessed to accelerate science and innovation— not by automating creative processes but by augmenting them. AI should be developed with people in mind from the start, not as an afterthought.
3. Investing in the right skills and support – To thrive in an AI-driven world, people need the right tools and education. AI can help personalize learning and healthcare, but risks like bias and privacy need to be managed. At the same time, AI can open up new jobs that require human touch.