ISLAMABAD: A new report from Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute has highlighted a stark global divide in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, and Norway leading the way. Pakistan, however, lags significantly behind in this technological race.
The “AI Diffusion Report 2025” reveals that in the UAE and Singapore, over 50% of the population is now using AI technology for daily tasks, placing them at the top of the global rankings.
In stark contrast, less than 15% of Pakistan’s population is currently using AI tools. The report identifies the primary reasons for this slow adoption in Pakistan: limited internet availability, a widespread digital skills gap, and a critical lack of AI tools available in local languages, such as Urdu.
Experts noted that AI adoption is accelerating in countries where users can interact with the technology in their native language, be it English or Arabic.
The report also highlighted that among Muslim nations, the UAE is the clear leader, while Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Qatar, and Indonesia are also making significant investments in AI education, data centers, and government programs.
Furthermore, the report named Israel as one of the seven countries creating advanced AI models, a list led by the US, China, South Korea, France, the UK, and Canada.
The report concluded with a strong recommendation for measures to bridge the growing AI gap between developed and developing nations, ensuring that all countries can equally benefit from this transformative technology.
