Microsoft says global generative AI usage rises to 18.8% in Q2 2026, gap widens between Global North and South

• Microsoft published a Global AI Diffusion Report showing generative AI usage rose to 18.8% of the world’s working-age population in June.
• The Global North–South gap widened, with usage at 28.8% in the North versus 16.2% in the South.
• UAE led adoption at 73.3%, followed by Singapore at 64.3%.
• South Korea posted the biggest quarterly increase at 3.5 percentage points; Japan rose 2.2 points, about 10% versus Q1.
• Microsoft expects broader measurement in the next report to lift user-share estimates across most economies, with larger increases projected in China.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Microsoft Corporation published the original content used to generate this news brief on September 22, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.