Microsoft released its Global AI Diffusion report for the second quarter of 2026, showing global Generative AI usage rose 1 percentage point from 17.8% in the first quarter to 18.8% in the second quarter, measured by the share of the global working-age population aged 15 to 64 using Generative AI products. The United Arab Emirates held first place at 73.3% and Singapore was second at 64.3%, while South Korea posted the largest percentage-point gain at 3.5 points, rising to 12th place, and Saudi Arabia climbed the most places, up 5 spots from 30th to 25th. For Thailand, the usage rate was 13.4% in the second quarter, up 1 percentage point from 12.4% in the first quarter. However, the gap between Global North and Global South countries continued to widen, with the Global North at 28.8% and the Global South at 16.2% in the second quarter, bringing the gap to 12.6 percentage points, which Microsoft said reflects constraints in electricity, internet access, and digital skills that remain obstacles to AI adoption in the Global South.
Microsoft CorporationMicrosoft's own Global AI Diffusion report shows global Gen AI usage rising to 18.8%, indicating growing adoption of its AI products.
