According to a report released by Microsoft in 2026, 17.8% of the global working-age population is using generative AI, but the gap between developed and developing countries is widening. The report shows that in the first quarter of 2026, 27.5% of people aged 15 to 64 in developed countries used generative AI tools, while the proportion in developing countries was only 15.4%. This gap has widened by 1.5 percentage points compared to the second half of 2025.
The main reason for this divide lies in serious inequalities in internet access, basic digital skills, and electricity. In addition, AI models perform better in English, as most major AI companies are based in the United States, which also limits the spread of tools in non-English speaking countries. However, technological advances in processing non-European languages are driving some countries, especially in Asia, to catch up in the use of AI tools.
In terms of AI usage, the UAE leads with a rate of 70.1%, followed by Singapore, Norway, Ireland, and France. It should be noted that these data are mainly based on measurements from computers running Windows and Microsoft products such as Bing and Copilot. Usage on Apple devices is partially overlooked, and data on Russia, Iran, and China are incomplete.
Nevertheless, Microsoft stated in the report that AI programming tools may increase the demand for developer jobs due to concerns about unemployment caused by automation. However, Microsoft also warned that it is still difficult to predict the full impact of AI on the labor market. In April 2026, Microsoft offered voluntary exit opportunities to nearly 9,000 U.S. employees. Meanwhile, according to data from Layoffs.fyi, nearly 99,000 employees in the technology industry have been laid off since January 2023, mainly in the United States.
Key Points:
📊 17.8% of the global working-age population is using generative AI, and the gap between rich and poor countries is increasing.
🌍 The AI usage rate in developed countries is 27.5%, while it is only 15.4% in developing countries.
🚀 The UAE leads the world in AI usage at 70.1%, and the report points out issues of unequal access to technology.
