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Worldwide AI adoption surges, new report shows

Ireland remains one of the world’s leading markets for AI adoption, with 48.4% of its working-age population using AI tools, according to Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Report for the first quarter of 2026.

Microsoft said Ireland recorded a quarterly increase of 3.8 percentage points, placing it fourth globally and close to surpassing the 50% milestone. If current trends continue, Ireland could overtake Norway, which currently ranks third for AI adoption.

Globally, AI usage increased from 16.3% to 17.8% of the working-age population during the first quarter of 2026. Adoption remains uneven, with 26 economies now exceeding 30% usage, while the United Arab Emirates leads globally at 70.1%.

Regional trends show strong momentum in Asia, driven in part by improved AI capabilities for Asian languages. Microsoft said South Korea, Thailand and Japan recorded some of the greatest movement during the quarter.

At the same time, the gap between the Global North and Global South widened, with AI usage reaching 27.5% in developed regions compared with 15.4% elsewhere. Microsoft said it measures AI diffusion as the share of people aged 15 to 64 who used a generative AI product during the reported period.

Advances in AI-assisted coding also affected software development. Microsoft said global git pushes increased 78% year on year, while US software developer employment reached about 2.2 million in 2025 and was about 4% higher in March 2026 than in March 2025. The report cautions that it is still too early to determine the full labour-market impact of AI-assisted coding.

Why does it matter?

The report shows how quickly generative AI is becoming part of everyday work and digital activity, but also how uneven that adoption remains across countries and regions. If high-adoption economies continue to move faster, AI could widen existing digital and economic divides, especially where infrastructure, language support, skills and access remain weaker.

The findings also show why governments and businesses are under pressure to adapt workforce training, regulation and digital infrastructure as AI use spreads. Rising adoption may support productivity gains, but it also raises questions about who benefits, which regions fall behind and how labour markets adjust as AI tools become more embedded in software development and services.

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China expands AI education strategy through global learning platform

China has launched a global AI education service platform to expand cross-border access to digital learning resources and support the integration of AI into education.

The initiative was announced during the 2026 World Digital Education Conference in Hangzhou and forms part of a broader upgrade to Smart Education of China, a digital education platform now accessible in around 220 countries and regions.

Chinese authorities said the upgraded platform will support cross-border sharing of educational resources and expand international services. New features include a lifelong learning hub and a Chinese language learning community.

The conference also saw the release of a report outlining China’s policy progress and practical experience in smart education. An AI education initiative was also unveiled, calling for better use of AI to support well-rounded and sustainable human development.

The initiative also urged stronger efforts to bridge the global digital divide by using smart education platforms to share high-quality resources and digital tools.

Why does it matter?

The launch shows how AI education is becoming part of digital infrastructure strategy, not only classroom reform. By linking AI tools, online learning resources and international access through a state-backed platform, China is positioning digital education as an area of both domestic development and global cooperation. It also points to wider competition over who builds the platforms, standards and learning ecosystems that will shape AI literacy and future workforce skills.

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AI’s economic impact could redefine jobs and productivity trends

AI is increasingly being viewed as a potential general-purpose technology, similar to electricity, computers and the internet, with the capacity to reshape economies over time, according to Bank of Canada External Deputy Governor Michelle Alexopoulos.

Speaking at the Ottawa Economics Association and Canadian Association for Business Economics Spring Policy Conference, Alexopoulos said technological change usually unfolds gradually. Still, some innovations spread across industries and transform the wider economy. AI has developed over the past decades, but recent advances have accelerated adoption among people and businesses.

If AI becomes a general-purpose technology, it could eventually reshape jobs, improve productivity and make businesses more competitive, potentially leading to higher wages, lower costs for consumers and reduced inflationary pressure. Alexopoulos cautioned that forecasts will change as new information becomes available, but said AI’s potential effects on productivity, inflation and the labour market cannot be ignored.

Global uptake is expanding, though unevenly. Investment in AI data centres has risen sharply, particularly in the United States, while constraints such as power generation capacity and skills shortages continue to affect adoption. In Canada, adoption is gaining momentum but remains uneven across sectors, with some businesses saying AI does not yet meet their needs or that workers lack the required skills.

Early signs of modest productivity gains are emerging, as AI may allow economies to produce more goods and services without requiring people to work harder. Because productivity affects estimates of future economic growth, the Bank of Canada sees AI’s potential impact as relevant to monetary policy.

Labour-market effects remain mixed. Alexopoulos noted that some large technology firms have linked recent job cuts to AI, and studies show weaker hiring in highly exposed roles such as entry-level coding and customer service. However, she said the evidence so far does not show large-scale job losses, but rather that AI is transforming work tasks instead of replacing people.

Why does it matter?

AI’s possible emergence as a general-purpose technology could affect productivity, wages, inflation and labour demand over time. The Bank of Canada’s framing matters because it links AI adoption directly to macroeconomic policy, rather than just to business innovation. The central question is whether AI raises productivity broadly enough to support growth and lower costs, or whether uneven adoption deepens gaps between firms, sectors and workers.

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Workers demand human oversight as AI reshapes workplaces in USA

A large majority of US workers support stronger AI workplace protections and see labour unions as the most trusted defenders of employee rights, according to an AFL-CIO poll. The findings highlight growing concern over how AI is being used in employment decisions and workplace management.

The survey of 1,588 respondents found over 90% support for human oversight in employment decisions, alongside strong backing for transparency, accountability and AI safeguards. A significant share also supported expanding unionisation to help workers negotiate protections related to automation.

Respondents expressed high levels of concern over undisclosed AI monitoring in the workplace, with most saying employers fail to clearly explain when or how AI tools are being used. Many workers said they view labour unions as more trustworthy than employers, political parties or tech companies in managing AI’s impact on jobs.

Union representatives said AI is increasingly used in scheduling, performance tracking and healthcare decisions, often without adequate consultation. The poll suggests broad demand for enforceable rules ensuring AI does not replace human judgement or reduce job security without worker consent.

Why does it matter?

The findings point to a broader structural tension between rapid AI adoption in workplaces and the slower development of governance frameworks that protect labour rights.

As AI becomes embedded in hiring, monitoring and decision-making systems, questions over accountability, transparency and human oversight are shifting from technical issues to core employment rights.

The strong preference for union-led safeguards also signals a potential rebalancing of power in the digital economy, where workers increasingly seek collective mechanisms to influence how automation is deployed and to ensure it does not erode job security or professional autonomy.

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WEF report highlights supply chain risks in quantum-safe cybersecurity transition

A new World Economic Forum (WEF) analysis argues that coordination failures across global technology supply chains could slow the transition towards quantum-safe cybersecurity, despite growing pressure from governments, regulators, and major technology companies to accelerate adoption of post-quantum cryptography (PQC).

The article highlights how the migration towards quantum-safe security has shifted from long-term planning into active deployment after the National Institute of Standards and Technology finalised its first PQC standards in 2024. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre has already set phased migration targets extending to 2035, while Google has set 2029 as the target timeline for parts of its own transition roadmap.

Furthermore, WEF argues that post-quantum migration cannot be treated as a routine software update because quantum-safe security depends on every layer of the digital ecosystem. Semiconductors, firmware, operating systems, applications, cloud services, telecoms infrastructure, and critical national infrastructure all need coordinated upgrades. Delays at one stage of the supply chain could affect every downstream deployment.

Critical infrastructure operators face particular pressure because many systems rely on long operational cycles, globally sourced equipment, and tightly regulated procurement frameworks. Energy networks, telecoms systems, transport infrastructure, and financial institutions are already making procurement decisions that may shape cybersecurity resilience for decades.

According to the report, deploying infrastructure without a clear PQC migration pathway could create substantial future remediation costs and operational risks.

The piece also links the post-quantum transition to broader cyber resilience concerns tied to AI. Frontier AI systems are increasingly being used to identify vulnerabilities at scale, accelerating both defensive security testing and potential offensive cyber capabilities.

The article references Anthropic and its Claude Mythos model, along with examples of Mozilla Firefox vulnerability discovery, as evidence that AI is rapidly changing software assurance and implementation testing.

Organisations treating PQC migration as a coordinated resilience programme instead of a narrow compliance exercise will be better positioned to protect critical services, economic stability, and trust in digital systems over the coming decade.

Why does it matter?

Quantum computing is steadily moving from theoretical risk to practical cybersecurity challenge, forcing governments and industries to rethink the foundations of digital security. The WEF analysis shows that the greatest obstacle may not be the cryptographic technology itself, but the coordination required across suppliers, infrastructure operators, regulators, cloud providers, and hardware manufacturers.

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UK backs Isomorphic Labs to strengthen sovereign AI and drug discovery

The UK government has announced a new investment in London-based Isomorphic Labs through its Sovereign AI Fund, strengthening national efforts to support homegrown AI companies developing strategic technologies.

The company focuses on using frontier AI systems to redesign how medicines are discovered and developed. Isomorphic Labs builds on the scientific foundations of AlphaFold, the DeepMind system capable of predicting protein structures with high accuracy, while expanding into broader AI-driven drug design models across multiple therapeutic areas.

The investment forms part of a wider fundraising round as the company scales efforts to accelerate medicine development and reduce the time traditionally required for pharmaceutical research. British officials described the initiative as part of a broader strategy to strengthen sovereign AI capabilities, support domestic innovation, and ensure future AI breakthroughs remain anchored in the UK economy.

The Sovereign AI programme, launched in 2026, combines venture capital investment with government-backed support for promising UK AI firms. Officials say supported companies must maintain a meaningful British presence while contributing to domestic economic growth, technological leadership, and high-skilled employment.

Why does it matter?

AI is increasingly moving beyond consumer applications and into strategic sectors such as biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare infrastructure. The UK’s backing of Isomorphic Labs reflects growing international competition to secure sovereign AI capabilities tied to scientific research, intellectual property, and future economic advantage.

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South Korea reviews AI cyber threat response

The Office of National Security of South Korea held a cybersecurity meeting to review how government agencies are responding to AI-driven cyber threats. The session focused on the growing risks posed by the misuse of advanced AI technologies.

Officials from multiple ministries attended, including science, defence and intelligence bodies, to coordinate responses. The government warned that AI-enabled hacking capabilities are becoming increasingly realistic as global technology companies release more advanced models.

Authorities have instructed relevant agencies to strengthen cooperation with businesses and institutions and distributed guidance on responding to AI-based security risks. Discussions also covered practical measures to support rapid responses to cybersecurity vulnerabilities across public and private sectors.

The government plans to establish a joint technical response team to improve information sharing and enable immediate action. Officials emphasised that while AI increases cyber risks, it also offers opportunities to strengthen security capabilities in South Korea.

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Australian Senate opens inquiry into AI data centres

The Australian Greens announced that the Senate has established a parliamentary inquiry into AI data centres, according to its official statement. The move follows growing concern over the rapid expansion of energy-intensive AI infrastructure and limited federal oversight.

The inquiry will examine environmental, economic and social impacts, including energy and water use, effects on communities, and the regulatory framework governing AI. It aims to better understand how these facilities influence resources and infrastructure.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said communities have raised concerns about pressure on energy supply, water availability and environmental protection. She also called for greater transparency and parliamentary scrutiny of agreements involving global technology companies.

The party warned against repeating past regulatory failures and stressed the need for accountability as AI infrastructure expands. The inquiry is expected to gather input from affected communities and stakeholders across Australia.

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UK backs stronger cooperation on AI and frontier technologies at OSCE

The UK has highlighted both the opportunities and risks linked to frontier technologies during a high-level conference organised by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in Geneva.

Speaking at the event, UK Tech Envoy Sarah Spencer said AI could support early warning and early action in humanitarian crises, but could also amplify misinformation and instability if misused or deployed without adequate safeguards.

Spencer said responsible governance of frontier technologies requires partnerships between states, institutions, industry and civil society, arguing that such cooperation matters more than individual products in building inclusive, responsible and sustainable digital ecosystems.

She also highlighted the OSCE’s role in fostering dialogue on frontier technologies, reducing misunderstandings and supporting anticipatory approaches to governance. The UK said it was ready to support efforts to ensure technological progress contributes to a safer, more secure and more humane future.

The conference, titled ‘Anticipating technologies – for a safe and humane future’, brought together participants to discuss how emerging technologies are affecting security, stability and international cooperation.

Why does it matter?

The statement places AI and other frontier technologies within a security and diplomacy context, rather than treating them only as innovation issues. It highlights growing concern that emerging technologies can support humanitarian and development goals, but also create risks for misinformation, conflict escalation and strategic stability if governance and cooperation lag behind deployment.

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EU Commission reviews Android DMA rules on interoperability

The European Commission is consulting third parties on proposed measures requiring Alphabet to ensure effective interoperability between Google Android and AI services under the Digital Markets Act.

The draft measures focus on AI services’ access to key Android capabilities, including wake-word activation, contextual data, integration with applications, and access to hardware and software resources needed for reliable and responsive services.

The Commission opened proceedings in January 2026 to specify how Alphabet should comply with DMA interoperability obligations for features relevant to AI services. Its proposed measures cover invocation, context, actions on apps and the operating system, access to resources, and general requirements such as free access, documented frameworks and APIs, technical assistance and reporting.

Stakeholders were asked to comment on the effectiveness, completeness, feasibility and implementation timelines of the proposed measures, particularly from the perspective of AI service providers and Android device manufacturers.

Input from Alphabet and interested third parties may lead to adjustments before the Commission adopts a final decision-making the measures legally binding. The Commission is expected to adopt that decision by 27 July 2026.

Why does it matter?

The case shows how the DMA is being applied to the emerging competitive landscape for AI assistants and mobile operating systems. If third-party AI services need access to Android features such as wake words, contextual data, app actions and on-device resources to compete effectively, interoperability rules could shape which AI tools reach users and how much control gatekeepers retain over mobile AI ecosystems.

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