Global AI Diffusion Q2 2026 (Microsoft, September 2026): 18.8% of working-age people worldwide now use generative AI

Microsoft's AI Economy Institute measures diffusion as the share of people aged 15 to 64 who used a generative AI product in the quarter, derived from Microsoft telemetry and adjusted for device share, internet access and population. In June 2026 the worldwide figure reached 18.8%, up about a point from the first quarter, with gains in almost every economy. The UAE (73.3%) and Singapore (64.3%) stay on top, Ireland, France and Norway round out the top five near 50%, and the United States ranks 21st at 33.0%. South Korea added the most, 3.5 points, and Saudi Arabia climbed five places.

The gap between the Global North (28.8%) and South (16.2%) widened again. Copilot conversation data shows the South leaning toward learning and schoolwork, which points to where low-cost access matters most.

For AI founders the report is a country-by-country map of where consumer and worker adoption is already high enough to sell into, and where growth is still ahead.