AI Adoption Soars But Global Divide Deepens

Generative AI is now used by 17.8% of the world's working-age population, but a growing gap separates wealthy and developing nations, according to a Microsoft report. In early 2026, 27.5% of people in developed countries used generative AI tools, versus 15.4% in developing nations, a divide that widened by 1.5 percentage points in six months. The UAE leads global AI adoption at 70.1%, with Ireland ranking fourth. The US placed only 21st despite hosting dominant AI models. Microsoft argued AI could boost developer job demand, though acknowledged uncertainty about its broader labour market impact, even as nearly 99,000 tech workers have been laid off globally since January.