Artificial intelligence could widen economic inequality across the Commonwealth, with the Ayre Index estimating a $360 billion difference in potential economic gains between countries best prepared for the technology and those lagging behind. Unveiled at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda, the study examined conditions affecting 732 million people aged 15 to 29 across all 56 member states. Fifteen countries met its youth AI-readiness benchmark and, under the middle scenario, could see a combined $389.2 billion increase in the level of their economies after 10 years, compared with $29.2 billion across the other 41 countries. The gap is twice the $174 billion in development aid provided by the world's major donor countries last year. Singapore topped the rankings, followed by Malta, Australia, Britain and Canada, while Malawi and Lesotho finished last. Only Mauritius, South Africa and Nigeria qualified among the Commonwealth's 21 African members. The study, based on 1,128 sources, says infrastructure alone is insufficient: Togo has near-universal 4G coverage but fewer than half of young people report using the internet, while electricity reaches only a fifth of Malawi's population. In Nigeria, about 90% of young people surveyed expected to use AI for work or education within a year, but the country scored 0.8 out of 10 for conventional digital capability. The report also warns that readiness does not guarantee employment, noting South Africa's 46.3% youth labour-force unemployment rate. It says skills, affordable connectivity, employment pathways and support for entrepreneurs will shape whether AI creates businesses and better jobs or reinforces existing economic divides.