The global adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) currently shows a clear disparity across economies. According to Microsoft’s Global AI Adoption report, the average adoption rate in Northern Hemisphere economies reaches 24.7%, nearly double the 14.1% recorded in Southern Hemisphere economies. This gap reflects significant differences in technological infrastructure, investment levels, and overall readiness to adopt AI across regions worldwide.
According to the report, the top five countries with the highest share of working-age populations using generative AI tools are the UAE (64%), Singapore (61%), Norway (46%), Ireland (45%), and France (44%). Notably, France recorded a remarkable increase, with AI usage rising by 3.1 percentage points in just one year - significantly higher than the growth seen in Germany and the United States (around 2 percentage points). Despite being a global hub for AI research and development, the United States ranks only 24th worldwide, with just 28% of its workforce using AI, partly due to relatively low public trust in the technology. France’s rapid progress is attributed to its dynamic AI ecosystem, particularly the rise of Mistral AI, as well as its unique combination of a strong scientific foundation and a high level of technological ethics awareness.
Within this broader landscape, Vietnam has reached an AI adoption rate of 24%, comparable to the average level of Northern Hemisphere economies. Notably, Vietnam is among the 15 economies with the fastest growth in AI adoption compared to the first half of 2025, indicating that AI is being increasingly applied across businesses, education, and everyday social life.
Compared to many developing countries in Southeast Asia, Vietnam is in a relatively strong position in its digital transformation and AI adoption journey. While Cambodia records only a 5.1% adoption rate due to limited investment and infrastructure, Vietnam shows significant potential to further expand AI usage and gradually narrow the gap with leading countries if it can maintain its current growth momentum.
