The United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Norway are taking the lead in global artificial intelligence adoption, while Pakistan remains significantly behind with limited integration of AI tools in daily life and work. According to Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute’s new AI Diffusion Report 2025, which assessed AI use across 170 countries, these nations have made remarkable progress in embedding AI across workplaces, education, and public services, whereas Pakistan’s adoption rate continues to trail below 15 percent.
The report reveals that over half of the working-age population in the UAE and Singapore now use AI regularly, placing both countries at the forefront of digital transformation. In contrast, Pakistan’s slow adoption highlights challenges in digital inclusion and infrastructure. Experts link the lag to limited internet connectivity, lack of AI tools in local languages, and inadequate digital skills training. The report also stresses that language accessibility has become a major factor in AI diffusion, as people in countries where AI is available in native or commonly spoken languages tend to embrace it faster.
Among Muslim-majority countries, the UAE continues to lead, followed by Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Qatar, and Indonesia, all of which are investing heavily in AI education, local data centers, and government-led innovation programs. Their progress demonstrates how policy direction, public-private collaboration, and infrastructure development can accelerate AI readiness. Israel also ranks among the world’s top seven frontier AI nations, alongside the United States, China, South Korea, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada—countries that not only use AI but also build and train their own advanced AI models.
While Pakistan is not yet part of the AI-producing group, analysts believe it can still make significant strides by strengthening its digital infrastructure, improving access to quality internet, and incorporating AI-related skills into national education and workforce training initiatives. The report draws a historical comparison to technologies like electricity and the internet, explaining that their transformative impact was realized only after becoming accessible to the broader population. In the same way, the true power of AI will depend on how well it is integrated into every aspect of society, from classrooms to corporate offices.
Microsoft’s report concludes with a call for urgent efforts to reduce the global AI gap and ensure equitable access to this transformative technology. For Pakistan, the findings serve as a timely reminder that investment in digital skills, localized AI tools, and inclusive technology education will be essential for ensuring that its citizens can fully participate in the global AI-driven future.
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