In a Brookings commentary, Tom Wheeler argues that AI’s rapid capability growth is creating a ‘token divide’ distinct from the earlier digital divide: because frontier models keep advancing rather than plateauing, users stuck on cheaper or older models fall persistently behind. He contends that falling per-token prices alone will not close this gap, citing rising usage, premium pricing for top-tier models, and concentrated AI infrastructure as forces that lock in a lasting competitive disadvantage for those without access to cutting-edge systems.
