Since the rise of AI in recent years has become an unavoidable issue in educational systems, its widespread use and accessibility need to be studied. Before addressing the complex question of whether using AI for writing assignments in the classroom is ethical, as well as questions of authorship, there is another issue that remains understudied. The digital divide and inaccessibility of free and reliable internet connections continue to be factors of discrimination across many communities and countries.Unstable, unreliable, and unaffordable internet access raises another important question that this presentation seeks to address: how accessible is AI in the Global South, and what impact will this have on educational equity? By showcasing three months of digital blackout and internet censorship in Iran and examining their effects on the educational system, this paper explores the relationship between the digital divide and AI within the global educational environment.
