Artificial Intelligence Adoption in 2025: A Widening Digital Divide
In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the most rapidly adopted technologies worldwide, but its diffusion reveals a growing digital divide. According to the "Global AI Adoption in 2025- A Widening Digital Divide" report by Microsoft's AI Economy Institute, 16.3% of the global population used an AI tool in the second half of the year, compared to 15.1% six months earlier, confirming a continuous progression.
Global Disparities in AI Adoption
However, behind this global dynamic lies a significant disparity between regions: nearly a quarter of the active population in high-income countries use AI today, compared to only 14% in middle- and low-income countries, a gap that has widened over the year. The most advanced countries in AI adoption are not necessarily the most economically powerful, but those that have invested early in digital infrastructure, training, and favorable public policies, such as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and several European countries. In contrast, many Southern economies remain hindered by access costs, lack of skills, and insufficient infrastructure.
AI Adoption in Africa and Tunisia
In 2025, AI is gradually spreading in Africa, but the continent remains largely behind the most advanced nations. According to estimates, around 12% of the African population used generative AI tools in the second half of the year, compared to over 16% globally.
Tunisia, in particular, is among the African leaders, with 12.7% of the population using AI, ranking 8th on the continent, behind Libya (13.7%), Botswana (13.7%), Gabon (13.4%), Egypt (13.4%), Senegal (12.9%), Morocco (12.8%), and South Africa (12.8%). These figures show that even the most advanced African countries remain far behind the adoption rates observed in Europe or Asia, where some states exceed 60% of active users.
Challenges and Opportunities in Tunisia
AI adoption in Tunisia is driven by a young and relatively educated population, sensitive to the professional and educational uses of AI, but it remains hindered by limited infrastructure and the high cost of access to advanced tools.
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