The Global AI Diffusion Q2 2026
Trends and Insights report reveals that 27.9 percent of working-age
Vietnamese used generative AI tools in the second quarter, representing a 1.4
percentage point increase from 26.5 percent in the preceding quarter.
Globally, Vietnam ranks 33rd in AI diffusion
and holds the second highest adoption rate in Southeast Asia behind Singapore,
which leads the region and ranks second globally at 64.3 percent. Vietnam’s
quarterly growth of 1.4 percentage points outperformed regional peers including
Malaysia (up 0.8 percentage points), Thailand (1.0 point), Indonesia (0.7
points), and the Philippines (0.6 points).
Microsoft calculates the AI diffusion index
based on the proportion of individuals aged 15 to 64 who used at least one
generative AI product during the reporting period. The metric leverages
aggregated, anonymized technical telemetry adjusted for operating systems,
device market share, internet penetration, and population size.
Within the Global South classification – where average Q2 2026 AI diffusion stood at
16.2 percent compared to 28.8 percent in the Global North – Vietnam demonstrates strong momentum.
Developing economies increasingly leverage AI tools for self-directed learning,
skills development, and educational support, driven largely by young
demographic profiles.
Worldwide, the United Arab Emirates led
overall adoption at 73.3 percent, followed by Singapore.
In East Asia, South Korea reached 40.6
percent, while Japan logged 24.7 percent.
Microsoft noted that adoption disparities stem
from variations in digital infrastructure, internet connectivity, hardware
availability, digital literacy, and localized AI tool accessibility.
The report highlighted that open-weight AI
models, which allow organizations to download and customize solutions, could
significantly reduce adoption costs across emerging markets.
While Vietnam outperforms most of its regional
neighbors, the substantial gap with frontrunners like Singapore highlights
considerable remaining growth potential for the country’s digital economy.
