Ireland now ranks fourth in the world for AI adoption. That is according to the Microsoft AI Economy Institute's Global AI Diffusion Report published on January 8th 2026.
In the second half of 2025, 44.6% of Ireland’s working-age population used generative AI tools, placing us just behind the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Norway.
Today, I am looking at the key findings from Microsoft's AI Diffusion Report. This is essential reading for anyone working in government, public or private sector communications or digital transformation. The data tells us where AI is being adopted, why some nations are surging ahead, and what lessons we can apply here in Ireland and beyond.
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