The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released its 2025 Human Development Report on Tuesday, revealing that global development progress has reached its slowest pace since records began in 1990. The report shows stalled advancement across all world regions despite recovery from recent global challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Titled "A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of artificial intelligence," the study examines progress through the Human Development Index (HDI), which measures health, education, and income achievements. The findings warn that several factors could worsen the situation, including rising trade tensions, worsening debt crises, and jobless industrialization.

UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner expressed concern about this trend. "If 2024's sluggish progress becomes 'the new normal,' that 2030 milestone could slip by decades – making our world less secure, more divided, and more vulnerable to economic and ecological shocks," he stated.

The report suggests artificial intelligence could help address these challenges. A UNDP survey found that while half of global respondents believe their jobs could be automated, 60 percent expect AI to positively impact their employment. Nearly two-thirds (64 percent) believe AI will make them more productive at work.

Only 13 percent of survey participants expressed fears about AI causing job losses. The research found particularly positive attitudes in countries with low and medium HDI rankings, where 70 percent expect AI to increase productivity and two-thirds plan to use AI for education, health, or work within the next year.

The report advocates for a human-centered approach to AI development. It argues against concerns about artificial general intelligence (AGI) replacing humans, noting that machines cannot frame problems independently but require human design and direction.

Pedro Conceição, Director of UNDP's Human Development Report Office, stressed the importance of policy choices: "With the right policies and focus on people, AI can be a crucial bridge to new knowledge, skills, and ideas that can empower everyone from farmers to small business owners." The UNDP survey included over 21,000 respondents across 21 countries in 36 languages, representing 63 percent of the world's population.

The advancement of quantum computing may further enhance AI capabilities globally. Recently, IBM partnered with Tata Consultancy Services to deploy India's largest quantum computer, featuring a 156-qubit processor in Andhra Pradesh. This technology can solve complex problems beyond the reach of conventional computing systems, potentially accelerating AI development across multiple sectors.