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.

A study cited by Stanford University’s Human-Centered AI institute shows the performance gap between U.S. and Chinese AI has nearly vanished, with models from both countries alternating among top benchmark rankings. The report also highlights declining transparency as private companies expand their influence, and record-low public trust in AI regulation. It says generative AI use has spread rapidly worldwide, while concerns are rising about environmental costs and shifting research diversity.