"South Korea Records 37.1% AI Usage Rate...Fastest Growth Worldwide"

There is an analysis indicating that South Korea, where generative artificial intelligence (AI) is actively utilized, has recorded the steepest growth rate in usage worldwide.

As of the first quarter of 2026: The status of generative AI adoption by global economic zones. Microsoft.

According to the 'AI Diffusion Report: Q1 2026 Trends and Insights' released on May 12 by the AI Economy Institute, Microsoft’s think tank, South Korea's generative AI usage rate reached 37.1%, ranking 16th globally. This figure represents a 6.4 percentage point increase from the previous quarter, making South Korea number one in the world in terms of growth rate.

The report assessed that Asia has emerged as a key growth axis leading global AI diffusion. Of the 15 economic regions with the fastest growth since June last year, 12 were in Asia, and all of these regions saw the number of AI users increase by more than 25%. In particular, South Korea, Thailand, and Japan led the growth. The report explained, “South Korea serves as a representative case illustrating the pattern of generative AI adoption spreading across Asia.”

The factors driving this growth include: ▲long-term investment in digital infrastructure ▲nationwide AI strategies ▲high consumer acceptance ▲performance improvements of major models in local Asian languages ▲the ability to rapidly integrate new technologies into daily life and economic activities.

During the first quarter of this year, the proportion of the global working-age population utilizing generative AI rose from 16.3% to 17.8%. By country, the United Arab Emirates recorded the highest generative AI usage rate at 70.1%, followed by Singapore (63.4%), Norway (48.6%), Ireland (48.4%), and France (47.8%). The United States increased from 28.3% to 31.3%, coming in at 21st place.

Meanwhile, the regional gap in AI usage has further widened. In fact, in Q1 2026, the generative AI usage rate among advanced economies stood at 27.5%, while that of emerging economies was only 15.4%. The core factors cited were disparities in infrastructure such as electricity supply, internet connectivity, and digital capabilities. The report warned, “If these foundational gaps are not addressed, the benefits of generative AI will be distributed unevenly, further entrenching global inequality.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.