Switzerland ranked 15th globally for AI adoption, with roughly one in three working-age people using AI tools, according to Microsoft’s AI Diffusion Report released today. The adoption rate of 32.4% is significantly above the Global North average of 23%.
“Switzerland is well-positioned to lead in the AI economy,” said Marc Holitscher, National Technology Officer at Microsoft Switzerland. “When we combine investment in infrastructure with education and digital skills and a forward-looking policy framework, we enable an ecosystem where people and organizations can innovate and thrive. This allows Switzerland to realize broad economic and social benefits in the AI era.”
Key findings from the report:
- More than 1 billion people worldwide have used AI tools in less than three years, making it the fastest-adopted technology in human history.
- Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab analyzed data from numerous AI products including Copilot, ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Midjourney to understand what drives AI usage globally.
- The research introduces three indices: AI Frontier Index (where breakthroughs are created), AI Infrastructure Index (where capacity to build and scale exists), and AI Diffusion Index (where AI is being used).
- Some countries, like Singapore, the UAE, Norway, and Ireland, stand out as leaders in AI adoption, proving that strong access to technology, education, and policy coordination can drive rapid adoption even without frontier-level model development. Switzerland follows a similar pattern.
- AI adoption in the Global North is roughly twice that of the Global South, with the gap widening sharply in countries where GDP per capita falls below $20,000.
- Nearly 4 billion people—half the world—still lack the electricity, internet connectivity, or digital skills needed to use AI.
Read the full report here:
AI Economy Institute – Microsoft Research: AI Diffusion