Global use of artificial intelligence continues to accelerate. In the second quarter of 2026, 18.8% of the world’s working-age population (aged 15 to 64) used generative AI tools, up from 17.8% in Q1 2026. The latest AI Diffusion Report from the Microsoft AI Economy Institute shows that AI adoption increased across almost every economy measured, with the United Arab Emirates (73.3%), Singapore (64.3%), Ireland (49.9%), France (49.6%) and Norway (49.4%) leading the global rankings. Switzerland continued to outperform the global average, ranking 15th worldwide with an adoption rate of 39.1%, up from 37.8% in the previous quarter.
Switzerland remains among the world’s leading AI economies
Switzerland’s continued position among the world’s most advanced AI economies highlights the country’s strong foundation for the next phase of AI adoption. As artificial intelligence moves beyond experimentation and becomes part of everyday work, learning and creativity, the focus is increasingly shifting from access to impact and from adoption to value creation.
“AI adoption in Switzerland has continued to rise over recent quarters, but the true measure of progress is the value it creates for people. The real opportunity lies in how people use AI to learn, create and solve problems. Switzerland is well positioned for this next phase. Our strengths in innovation, education and collaboration across business, academia and government provide a strong foundation to scale AI responsibly. As AI becomes part of everyday work, long-term competitiveness will depend on how effectively we combine technology with human expertise, skills and judgment,” says Catrin Hinkel, CEO of Microsoft Switzerland.
Open-weight models broaden access to AI
The report also highlights the growing importance of open-weight AI models, which are helping lower barriers to access and making it easier for organizations to adapt AI to local needs and languages. At the same time, the findings show that AI is increasingly used for learning and skills development, particularly in emerging economies.
While AI adoption continues to grow globally, the gap between the Global North and Global South widened in Q2 2026, highlighting the importance of investments in digital infrastructure, connectivity and AI skills to ensure the benefits of AI are broadly shared.
You can read the full AI Diffusion Report here:
Global AI Diffusion Report | Microsoft