Generative AI Adoption Statistics 2026
This page collects measured rates of generative AI use by individuals, by workers on the job and by businesses. It covers the United States, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom and global estimates, with most data from 2025 and 2026. Every figure comes from the statistical office, central bank, research center or company that ran the survey or measurement, and each carries the exact sentence it was taken from.
By the DBotMaker research desk · Updated November 6, 2026 · 54 numbers drawn from 16 publishers and reports
Short answer
About half of Americans now use generative AI: Pew Research Center found 44% of U.S. adults use ChatGPT in 2026, and the St. Louis Fed measured 54.6% adoption among adults 18 to 64 in August 2025. Globally, Microsoft counts 18.8% of the working-age population as AI users in June 2026, while firm adoption is lower, at 19.8% of U.S. firms (Census Bureau, May 2026), 19.95% of EU enterprises (Eurostat, 2025) and 20.2% of firms across the OECD (2025).
Headline numbers
- 54.6%In August 2025, 54.6% of U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 used generative AI, up 10 percentage points in 12 months, according to the St. Louis Fed's Real-Time Population Survey.Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
- 12%About a quarter of U.S. adults used AI chatbots daily in 2026, including 12% who use them several times a day and 4% almost constantly.Pew Research Center
- 18.8%Microsoft estimated that 18.8% of the world's working-age population (ages 15 to 64) used generative AI in June 2026.Microsoft
- 19.8%In the Census Bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey period ending May 3, 2026, 19.8% of U.S. firms used AI in their business functions.U.S. Census Bureau
- 32.7%In 2025, 32.7% of people aged 16 to 74 in the EU had used generative AI tools in the previous three months.Eurostat
- 55.03%In 2025, 55.03% of large EU enterprises used AI, compared with 30.36% of medium and 17% of small enterprises.Eurostat
- 52%As of May 2026, 15% of U.S. employees used AI daily in their role and 52% used it at least a few times a year, according to Gallup.Gallup
- 78 percentWeighted by employment, about 78% of the U.S. labor force worked at firms that had adopted AI in late 2025, and about 54% at firms using large language models.Federal Reserve Board
Reading the numbers
Individuals adopted generative AI faster than firms did. The St. Louis Fed's Real-Time Population Survey put adoption among U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 at 54.6% in August 2025, and the Stanford AI Index 2026 notes that generative AI reached 53% adoption within three years, faster than the personal computer or the internet. Over the same period the U.S. Census Bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey found roughly one firm in five using AI in its business functions.
The gap between people and firms shows up in every country with official data. Eurostat measured 32.7% of EU residents aged 16 to 74 using generative AI tools in 2025, while 19.95% of EU enterprises with 10 or more employees used any AI technology. Statistics Canada reported 19.2% of Canadian businesses using AI in the year to the second quarter of 2026, three times the 2024 rate. The UK's Department for Science, Innovation and Technology found 59% of adults had used generative AI in a three-month window, against about a quarter of UK businesses in the Office for National Statistics survey.
Firm size and sector matter more than geography. Large firms use AI at two to three times the rate of small ones in the EU (55.03% vs 17%), across the OECD (52.0% vs 17.4%) and in the United States, where 37% of firms with 250 or more workers report use. Information, finance and professional services lead in the U.S., Canada and Europe, while construction, agriculture and retail trail.
Measures differ, so the numbers should not be stacked against each other without care. Microsoft's diffusion figure counts the working-age population that used a generative AI product in a period, Pew asks adults whether they ever use chatbots, and Eurostat uses a three-month recall window. Firm surveys ask about any AI technology, not only generative AI, and the Census Bureau changed its question wording in late 2025, which raised measured adoption.
Generative AI use worldwide and by country
- 1.
Microsoft estimated that 18.8% of the world's working-age population (ages 15 to 64) used generative AI in June 2026.
Microsoft, The continued state of global AI diffusion in 2026 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In June, AI usage was 18.8% of the working-age population worldwide, an increase of about 1% from the first quarter of this year.
- 2.
In Microsoft's global measure, AI use rose from 16.3% to 17.8% of the working-age population during the first quarter of 2026.
Microsoft, The state of global AI diffusion in 2026 (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
During the quarter, AI usage increased by 1.5 percentage points from 16.3% to 17.8% of the world’s working age population.
- 3.
The United Arab Emirates (73.3%) and Singapore (64.3%) had the highest shares of working-age people using AI in Microsoft's second-quarter 2026 ranking.
Microsoft, The continued state of global AI diffusion in 2026 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Notably, the UAE (73.3%) and Singapore (64.3%) continue to top the leaderboard.
- 4.
In the first quarter of 2026, 31.3% of the U.S. working-age population used AI, which placed the United States 21st in Microsoft's national ranking.
Microsoft, The state of global AI diffusion in 2026 (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The United States finally started to move up the national rankings, albeit only from 24th to 21st based on a 31.3% usage rate by the working age population.
- 5.
By June 2026, AI use reached 28.8% of the working-age population in the Global North and 16.2% in the Global South, a gap Microsoft says is widening.
Microsoft, The continued state of global AI diffusion in 2026 (Sep 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Worldwide, the quarter brought a continued widening of the AI gap between the Global North and South, with usage now at 28.8% in the North and 16.2% in the South.
- 6.
The Stanford AI Index 2026 reports that generative AI reached 53% adoption within three years of launch, faster than the personal computer or the internet.
Stanford HAI, The 2026 AI Index Report: Economy (Apr 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Generative AI reached 53% adoption in three years, faster than the personal computer or the internet.
- 7.
Across six countries surveyed by the Reuters Institute in both years, weekly use of standalone generative AI tools rose from 34% in 2025 to 51% in 2026.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Generative AI and News Report 2026: From standalone tools to information infrastructure (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The use of standalone generative AI systems and chatbots continues to grow rapidly, with weekly use up from one-third (34%) last year to half (51%) in 2026
- 8.
Daily use of generative AI in the same six countries rose from 7% in 2024 to 16% in 2025 and 28% in 2026.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Generative AI and News Report 2026: From standalone tools to information infrastructure (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Daily use of generative AI systems is increasing rapidly too, nearly doubling year-on-year in these six countries, from 7% in 2024 to 16% in 2025 to 28% in 2026.
- 9.
In 2026, 14% of respondents across nine countries said they had used an AI agent for a real task in the last week, while 67% had not used one.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Generative AI and News Report 2026: From standalone tools to information infrastructure (Oct 2026)
Exact wording at the source
the vast majority across all nine countries (67%) did not use an AI agent in the last week, with 14% saying they have used them for a real task and 13% saying they tried one in the last week
- 10.
In the Reuters Institute's 2025 survey of six countries, 59% of people aged 18 to 24 had used generative AI in the past week, compared with 20% of those aged 55 and over.
Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Generative AI and news report 2025: How people think about AI's role in journalism and society (Oct 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In the 18–24 category, 59% used any generative AI in the last week, as opposed to 20% among those aged 55 and over, although this age gap is driven mainly by ChatGPT.
Chart
Weekly use of AI chatbots by brand, six-country average, 2026
Share of online adults using each tool in the last week, average of six countries, 2026.
- ChatGPT34%
- Google Gemini24%
- Microsoft Copilot11%
- Claude7%
Source: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Generative AI and News Report 2026: From standalone tools to information infrastructure
Generative AI use by people in Europe and the UK
- 11.
In 2025, 32.7% of people aged 16 to 74 in the EU had used generative AI tools in the previous three months.
Eurostat, 32.7% of EU people used generative AI tools in 2025 (Dec 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, 32.7% of people aged 16-74 in the EU used generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
- 12.
Among EU residents in 2025, 25.1% used generative AI for personal purposes, 15.1% for work and 9.4% for formal education.
Eurostat, 32.7% of EU people used generative AI tools in 2025 (Dec 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Most people used them for personal purposes (25.1%), while 15.1% used them for work and 9.4% for formal education.
- 13.
Denmark had the highest share of residents using generative AI tools in the EU in 2025, at 48.4%.
Eurostat, 32.7% of EU people used generative AI tools in 2025 (Dec 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Among EU countries, the use of generative AI tools was most widespread in Denmark (48.4%), Estonia (46.6%) and Malta (46.5%).
- 14.
Romania had the lowest share of residents using generative AI tools in the EU in 2025, at 17.8%, followed by Italy at 19.9%.
Eurostat, 32.7% of EU people used generative AI tools in 2025 (Dec 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In contrast, the lowest shares of people using generative AI tools were recorded in Romania (17.8%), Italy (19.9%) and Bulgaria (22.5%).
- 15.
Across OECD countries in 2025, 41.1% of employed people used generative AI tools, compared with 12.5% of retired and other inactive people.
OECD, AI use by individuals surges across the OECD as adoption by firms continues to expand (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Adoption is also widespread among those connected to the labour market, including people in employment (41.1%) and those unemployed (36.7%).
- 16.
Age is the widest divide in individual AI use across the OECD in 2025, with a gap of 53.6 percentage points, against 4.2 points by gender.
OECD, AI use by individuals surges across the OECD as adoption by firms continues to expand (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The largest divide is by age, with a gap of 53.6 percentage points, while differences by educational attainment and income level are also significant, both at around 21 percentage points.
- 17.
In the UK, 59% of adults had used a form of generative AI in the last three months, according to the 2025/2026 DSIT Public Engagement Survey.
UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, DSIT Public Engagement Survey 2025/2026 (Jul 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Overall, 59% of adults had used a form of generative AI in the last three months.
- 18.
In the UK in 2025/2026, 75% of adults with a degree had used generative AI in the last three months, compared with 19% of adults with no qualifications.
UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, DSIT Public Engagement Survey 2025/2026 (Jul 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Usage of generative AI generally increased with the level of highest qualification, with 75% of those with a degree-level qualification or above having used this type of AI in the last three months, 48% of those with another type of qualification, and 19% for respondents with no qualifications.
- 19.
London had the highest regional rate of generative AI use in the UK in 2025/2026, with 69% of adults using it in the last three months.
UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, DSIT Public Engagement Survey 2025/2026 (Jul 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The highest rates of usage were seen in London, where 69% had reported using this in the last three months.
Chart
People using generative AI tools, highest and lowest EU countries, 2025
People aged 16 to 74 who used generative AI tools in the previous three months, 2025. EU average 32.7%.
- Denmark48.4%
- Estonia46.6%
- Malta46.5%
- Bulgaria22.5%
- Italy19.9%
- Romania17.8%
Source: Eurostat, 32.7% of EU people used generative AI tools in 2025
Generative AI use by U.S. consumers
- 20.
In August 2025, 54.6% of U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 used generative AI, up 10 percentage points in 12 months, according to the St. Louis Fed's Real-Time Population Survey.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, The State of Generative AI Adoption in 2025 (Nov 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In the last 12 months, adoption of this new technology increased by 10 percentage points to 54.6%.
- 21.
Generative AI use outside work among U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 rose from 36.0% to 48.7% in the year to August 2025.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, The State of Generative AI Adoption in 2025 (Nov 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Nonwork adoption increased even more rapidly, from 36.0% to 48.7%.
- 22.
In February 2026, 44% of U.S. adults said they use ChatGPT, up from 34% a year earlier.
Pew Research Center, Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact (Jun 2026)
Exact wording at the source
A little under half of U.S. adults (44%) now report using the chatbot, up from 34% last year.
- 23.
About a quarter of U.S. adults used AI chatbots daily in 2026, including 12% who use them several times a day and 4% almost constantly.
Pew Research Center, Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact (Jun 2026)
Exact wording at the source
This includes 12% who say they do so several times a day and 4% who use these tools almost constantly.
- 24.
U.S. adults under 50 were about twice as likely as those 50 and older to use ChatGPT in 2026, at 57% versus 28%.
Pew Research Center, Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact (Jun 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Adults under 50 are about twice as likely as those ages 50 and older to report using ChatGPT (57% vs. 28%).
Generative AI use by workers
- 25.
Work use of generative AI among U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 rose from 33.3% to 37.4% in the 12 months to August 2025.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, The State of Generative AI Adoption in 2025 (Nov 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In the last 12 months, work adoption increased from 33.3% to 37.4%.
- 26.
As of May 2026, 15% of U.S. employees used AI daily in their role and 52% used it at least a few times a year, according to Gallup.
Gallup, AI in the Workplace: Indicator (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
As of May 2026, 15% of U.S. employees use AI daily in their role, 30% use it a few times a week or more, and 52% use it a few times a year or more.
- 27.
In May 2026, 47% of U.S. employees said their organization had integrated AI tools to improve organizational practices.
Gallup, AI in the Workplace: Indicator (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
As of May 2026, 47% of U.S. employees say their organization has integrated AI technology or tools to improve organizational practices.
- 28.
Only 25% of U.S. employees said in May 2026 that their organization had communicated a clear plan for integrating AI.
Gallup, AI in the Workplace: Indicator (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
As of May 2026, 25% of U.S. employees say their organization has communicated a clear plan for integrating AI into current practices.
- 29.
Work-related generative AI adoption among U.S. workers stood at about 41% as of November 2025, according to a Federal Reserve Board note using Real-Time Population Survey data.
Federal Reserve Board, Monitoring AI Adoption in the U.S. Economy (Apr 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Work-related Generative AI adoption reported by individuals in the Real-Time Population Survey stands at about 41 percent as of November, with the strongest growth occurring in the most recent quarter.
- 30.
Work use of generative AI was highest among U.S. workers in finance (63%) and professional services (62%) as of late 2025.
Federal Reserve Board, Monitoring AI Adoption in the U.S. Economy (Apr 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In line with the BTOS, the right panel of figure 4 shows that work-related GenAI adoption reported in the RPS is highest in the financial (63 percent) and professional services (62 percent) sectors.
- 31.
Across all U.S. workers, including nonusers, reported generative AI time savings equaled 1.6% of all work hours in 2025.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, The State of Generative AI Adoption in 2025 (Nov 2025)
Exact wording at the source
Factoring in all workers, including nonusers, workers report generative AI time savings equivalent to 1.6% of all work hours.
- 32.
In February 2026, 38% of employed U.S. adults said they use AI chatbots for tasks at work.
Pew Research Center, Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact (Jun 2026)
Exact wording at the source
38% of employed adults report using chatbots for tasks at work.
Business adoption of AI by country
- 33.
In the Census Bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey period ending May 3, 2026, 19.8% of U.S. firms used AI in their business functions.
U.S. Census Bureau, Large Firms With at Least 20 Employees Biggest AI Users (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
As of May 3, 2026, the AI use rates in the Information (39.7%) and Finance and Insurance (33.9%) sectors were both higher than the national rate (19.8%) but neither reported significant shifts since December.
- 34.
Between December 2025 and May 2026, between 20% and 23% of U.S. businesses expected to be using AI within six months.
U.S. Census Bureau, Large Firms With at Least 20 Employees Biggest AI Users (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The BTOS data (December 2025 to May 2026) show that overall AI usage hovered between 17% and 20% — and that between 20% and 23% of businesses expected to be using it in the next six months.
- 35.
Weighted by employment, about 78% of the U.S. labor force worked at firms that had adopted AI in late 2025, and about 54% at firms using large language models.
Federal Reserve Board, Monitoring AI Adoption in the U.S. Economy (Apr 2026)
Exact wording at the source
The SBU estimates an employment-weighted firm AI adoption rate of around 78 percent and an LLM adoption rate of about 54 percent.
- 36.
In the second quarter of 2026, 19.2% of Canadian businesses had used AI to produce goods or deliver services in the past 12 months, three times the 6.1% recorded in 2024.
Statistics Canada, Analysis in Brief: Use of artificial intelligence by businesses in Canada, second quarter of 2026 (Jun 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In the second quarter of 2026, 19.2% of businesses reported using AI to produce goods or deliver services over the 12 months preceding the survey.
- 37.
In Canada in 2026, 21.0% of urban businesses had used AI in the past 12 months, compared with 9.9% of rural businesses.
Statistics Canada, Analysis in Brief: Use of artificial intelligence by businesses in Canada, second quarter of 2026 (Jun 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In the second quarter of 2026, 21.0% of urban businesses and 9.9% of rural businesses have used AI over the last 12 months.
- 38.
In 2025, 19.95% of EU enterprises with 10 or more employees used at least one AI technology.
Eurostat, Use of artificial intelligence in enterprises (Dec 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, 19.95% of enterprises in the EU, with 10 or more employees and self-employed persons, used at least one of the following AI
- 39.
Denmark had the highest share of enterprises using AI in the EU in 2025, at 42.03%, while Romania had the lowest, at 5.21%.
Eurostat, Use of artificial intelligence in enterprises (Dec 2025)
Exact wording at the source
The highest share was recorded in Denmark (42.03%), followed by Finland (37.82%) and Sweden (35.04%), while the lowest shares were recorded in Romania (5.21%), Poland (8.36%) and Bulgaria (8.55%).
- 40.
Across OECD countries with data, 20.2% of firms used AI in 2025, up from 8.7% in 2023.
OECD, AI use by individuals surges across the OECD as adoption by firms continues to expand (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, 20.2% of firms reported using AI, up from 14.2% in 2024 and 8.7% in 2023, meaning adoption has more than doubled over the past two years.
- 41.
About 25% of UK businesses were using some form of AI technology in late December 2025, up 15 percentage points since late September 2023.
Office for National Statistics, Business insights and impact on the UK economy: 8 January 2026 (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Approximately a quarter (25%) of businesses reported that they are currently using some form of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in late December 2025, up 15 percentage points since the question was first introduced in late September 2023; for businesses with 250 employees or more, the proportion was higher at 44%.
- 42.
About 15% of UK businesses planned to adopt some form of AI technology within three months as of late December 2025, the highest share since the question began.
Office for National Statistics, Business insights and impact on the UK economy: 8 January 2026 (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
When asked in late December 2025, around one in seven (15%) businesses reported they were planning to adopt some form of AI technology within the next three months
- 43.
In corporate surveys summarized by the Stanford AI Index 2026, 70% of organizations used generative AI in at least one business function in 2025.
Stanford HAI, The 2026 AI Index Report: Economy (Apr 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Generative AI is now used in at least one business function at 70% of organizations, and China and Europe posted the highest year-over-year increases.
Chart
Share of firms using AI across OECD countries
Firms in OECD countries where data are available, 2023 to 2025.
- 20238.7%
- 202414.2%
- 202520.2%
Source: OECD, AI use by individuals surges across the OECD as adoption by firms continues to expand
Business adoption by sector and firm size
- 44.
In May 2026, 37% of U.S. firms with at least 250 employees used AI in their business operations.
U.S. Census Bureau, Large Firms With at Least 20 Employees Biggest AI Users (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
For example, 37% of firms with at least 250 employees reported using AI in their business operations.
- 45.
In the U.S. Information sector, 39.7% of firms used AI as of May 2026, the highest of any sector, with Finance and Insurance at 33.9%.
U.S. Census Bureau, Large Firms With at Least 20 Employees Biggest AI Users (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
As of May 3, 2026, the AI use rates in the Information (39.7%) and Finance and Insurance (33.9%) sectors were both higher than the national rate (19.8%) but neither reported significant shifts since December.
- 46.
About 14% of U.S. retail businesses used AI in 2026, below the national average.
U.S. Census Bureau, Large Firms With at Least 20 Employees Biggest AI Users (May 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In comparison, businesses in the Retail Trade sector reported current and expected usage lower than the national average: around 14% of businesses currently use AI, and about 17% expect to in the next six months.
- 47.
In 2025, 55.03% of large EU enterprises used AI, compared with 30.36% of medium and 17% of small enterprises.
Eurostat, Use of artificial intelligence in enterprises (Dec 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, 17% of small enterprises, 30.36% of medium enterprises and 55.03% of large enterprises used AI.
- 48.
The EU information and communication sector had the highest AI use among enterprises in 2025, at 62.52%.
Eurostat, Use of artificial intelligence in enterprises (Dec 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, the information and communication sector (with 62.52%) and professional, scientific and technical service activities (with 40.43%) stood out with the highest share of enterprises that used AI.
- 49.
Among EU enterprises that considered AI but did not use it in 2025, 70.89% cited a lack of relevant expertise.
Eurostat, Use of artificial intelligence in enterprises (Dec 2025)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, among EU enterprises who had ever considered using AI technologies, the most common reason for not using AI technologies was the lack of relevant expertise (70.89%), followed by lack of clarity about the legal consequences (52.52%), and concerns regarding violation of data protection and privacy (48.83%).
- 50.
Across the OECD in 2025, 52.0% of large firms used AI, compared with 17.4% of small firms.
OECD, AI use by individuals surges across the OECD as adoption by firms continues to expand (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Adoption remains highly uneven across firms of different sizes: 52.0% of large firms use AI, compared with 17.4% of small firms.
- 51.
In 2025, 57.3% of ICT firms across the OECD used AI, the highest of any industry, followed by professional and scientific services at 36.8%.
OECD, AI use by individuals surges across the OECD as adoption by firms continues to expand (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
In 2025, 57.3% of ICT firms across the OECD used AI, the highest share of any industry, followed by professional and scientific services (36.8%).
- 52.
In Canada, 42.3% of businesses in information and cultural industries used AI in the year to the second quarter of 2026, the highest of any industry.
Statistics Canada, Analysis in Brief: Use of artificial intelligence by businesses in Canada, second quarter of 2026 (Jun 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Over the last 12 months, businesses in information and cultural industries (42.3%), finance and insurance (40.4%), and professional, scientific and technical services (32.4%) were most likely to use AI to produce goods and deliver services.
- 53.
In 2026, 27.8% of Canadian businesses with 100 or more employees reported using AI in the past 12 months.
Statistics Canada, Analysis in Brief: Use of artificial intelligence by businesses in Canada, second quarter of 2026 (Jun 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Over 1 in 4 (27.8%) businesses with 100 or more employees reported using AI in the last 12 months.
- 54.
Daily AI use among U.S. employees in May 2026 was highest in technology (42%), finance (27%) and professional services (22%).
Gallup, AI in the Workplace: Indicator (Jan 2026)
Exact wording at the source
Three sectors clearly lead the pack — technology (42%), finance (27%) and professional services (22%) — while daily use across the remaining seven industries ranges from 9% to 15%.
Chart
Canadian industries most likely to use AI, 2026
Businesses using AI to produce goods or deliver services in the 12 months to the second quarter of 2026. National rate 19.2%.
- Information and cultural42.3%
- Finance and insurance40.4%
- Professional, scientific and technical32.4%
Source: Statistics Canada, Analysis in Brief: Use of artificial intelligence by businesses in Canada, second quarter of 2026
Questions readers ask
- What share of people use generative AI?
- It depends on the country and the measure. Microsoft estimates 18.8% of the world's working-age population used generative AI in June 2026, Eurostat found 32.7% of EU residents aged 16 to 74 used it in 2025, and the St. Louis Fed measured 54.6% of U.S. adults aged 18 to 64 in August 2025.
- How many U.S. businesses use AI?
- The U.S. Census Bureau's Business Trends and Outlook Survey found 19.8% of U.S. firms using AI in their business functions in the period ending May 3, 2026. Use rises with size: 37% of firms with 250 or more employees reported AI use.
- Which countries use generative AI the most?
- In Microsoft's mid-2026 ranking, the United Arab Emirates (73.3%) and Singapore (64.3%) lead. Within the EU, Eurostat found the highest rates in Denmark (48.4%), Estonia (46.6%) and Malta (46.5%) in 2025, and the lowest in Romania (17.8%).
- Which industries use AI the most?
- Information and communication firms lead in every official survey: 62.52% of EU enterprises in that sector used AI in 2025 (Eurostat), 57.3% of ICT firms across the OECD, and 39.7% of U.S. Information firms in May 2026 (Census Bureau). Finance and professional services follow.
- How many workers use AI on the job?
- Gallup found 52% of U.S. employees used AI at work at least a few times a year in May 2026, but only 15% daily. The St. Louis Fed measured work use at 37.4% of adults aged 18 to 64 in August 2025, and Eurostat found 15.1% of EU residents used generative AI for work in 2025.
Where these numbers come from
We took each figure from the organization that collected the data: statistical offices (U.S. Census Bureau, Eurostat, Statistics Canada, Office for National Statistics), central banks (Federal Reserve Board, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis), government departments, the OECD, survey research organizations (Pew Research Center, Gallup, Reuters Institute), Microsoft's own usage measurement and the Stanford AI Index. Each quote was refetched from the source page and checked against the figure. The sources do not share a definition of use. Individual surveys range from 'ever use' (Pew) to 'last three months' (Eurostat, DSIT) to 'last week' (Reuters Institute), and Microsoft infers use from product telemetry for ages 15 to 64. Business surveys usually ask about any AI technology, not only generative AI, and the Census Bureau revised its AI question in November 2025, which raised measured adoption. Compare figures within a source before comparing across sources. We store the sentence each number appears in, and a script loads the publisher's page again to make sure that sentence is still there. Our methodology has the details.
Sources
- Eurostat. 32.7% of EU people used generative AI tools in 2025 (Dec 2025).
- Eurostat. Use of artificial intelligence in enterprises (Dec 2025).
- Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The State of Generative AI Adoption in 2025 (Nov 2025).
- Federal Reserve Board. Monitoring AI Adoption in the U.S. Economy (Apr 2026).
- Gallup. AI in the Workplace: Indicator (Jan 2026).
- Microsoft. The continued state of global AI diffusion in 2026 (Sep 2026).
- Microsoft. The state of global AI diffusion in 2026 (May 2026).
- OECD. AI use by individuals surges across the OECD as adoption by firms continues to expand (Jan 2026).
- Office for National Statistics. Business insights and impact on the UK economy: 8 January 2026 (Jan 2026).
- Pew Research Center. Americans and AI 2026: Chatbots, Smart Devices and Views on Impact (Jun 2026).
- Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Generative AI and News Report 2026: From standalone tools to information infrastructure (Oct 2026).
- Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Generative AI and news report 2025: How people think about AI's role in journalism and society (Oct 2025).
- Stanford HAI. The 2026 AI Index Report: Economy (Apr 2026).
- Statistics Canada. Analysis in Brief: Use of artificial intelligence by businesses in Canada, second quarter of 2026 (Jun 2026).
- U.S. Census Bureau. Large Firms With at Least 20 Employees Biggest AI Users (May 2026).
- UK Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. DSIT Public Engagement Survey 2025/2026 (Jul 2026).
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DBotMaker. (2026, November 6). Generative AI Adoption Statistics 2026. https://dbotmaker.io/generative-ai-adoption-statistics
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