Global AI Adoption Hits 16.3% In 2025 As North South Gap Widens
The usage of artificial intelligence has continued to climb steadily across the globe as we settle into the mid-2020s. A comprehensive new analysis released by the Microsoft AI Economy Institute provides a clear picture of how these advanced tools are integrating into daily life. Their latest data reveals that approximately 16.3% of the world population utilized generative AI solutions during the second half of 2025. This statistic indicates a notable rise from figures seen earlier in the year and suggests that roughly one in every six people on the planet now interacts with this technology.
The report uncovers a troubling trend regarding how evenly this technological progress is being distributed among different nations. There is a significant and widening disparity between the advanced economies of the Global North and the developing nations of the Global South. Research shows that nearly a quarter of the working-age population in northern regions actively uses AI tools to enhance their productivity or learning. This stands in stark contrast to the Global South where the adoption rate currently hovers around just 14.1 percent.
The speed at which these distinct regions are adopting new systems contributes heavily to the expanding chasm between them. Data indicates that the rate of integration in wealthier northern countries grew nearly twice as fast as it did in their southern counterparts over the last six months. Juan M. Lavista Ferres from Microsoft highlighted this issue by noting that the benefits of this technological revolution are not spreading equally. The gap between these two geopolitical spheres widened from roughly 9.8 percentage points to 10.6 percentage points in a very short period.
Specific nations have surged ahead to become dominant leaders in the race for digital integration and widespread usage. The United Arab Emirates currently holds the top position with an impressive 64% of its working-age citizens utilizing generative AI tools regularly. Singapore follows closely behind as another global leader that has successfully integrated these systems into the fabric of its economy. It is worth noting that the United States currently sits at the 24th position on this list despite being the home of many major tech developers.
South Korea distinguished itself in the report by recording the most dramatic improvement among all surveyed nations. The country managed to jump seven spots in the global rankings to reach the 18th position in a matter of months. This surge is largely attributed to coordinated government policies and a strong cultural push toward integrating smart tools into education and business sectors. Such rapid growth demonstrates how focused national strategies can effectively accelerate public adoption of new technologies.
There is still hope for narrowing these economic divides through the increasing availability of open-source platforms. Accessible models like DeepSeek are gaining significant traction in markets such as China and various African nations where expensive subscriptions act as a barrier. These platforms allow users in underserved regions to bypass financial hurdles and access powerful digital assistants for their work and studies. Experts believe that democratizing access to these foundational models is the most effective way to ensure the digital future remains inclusive.
Please share your perspective on how the widening digital divide might impact the global job market in the comments.
