Microsoft\'s think tank, the AI Economy Institute, released an AI diffusion report analysing changes centred on the digital divide and software development. It said the share of the global working-age population using generative AI rose to 17.8 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from 16.3 percent. Countries above 30 percent increased to 26 from 18, while South Korea posted the steepest rise. The report said usage gaps between the Global North and Global South widened.

Tokenised assets, stablecoins and central bank digital currencies are expected to move beyond testing and become core infrastructure for payments and capital markets by 2030, a report cited in South Korean media said. The shift could disrupt banks\' revenue structures and customer touchpoints. IBM outlined scenarios involving CBDCs replacing retail payments, stablecoins dominating cross-border payments, and tokenised securities reshaping capital market infrastructure, while highlighting cybersecurity and regulatory challenges.