AMMAN — Jordan has ranked third among Arab countries and 29th worldwide in the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), with 25.4 per cent of its working-age population using AI tools, according to AI Microsoft's AI Diffusion Report.

 

The index, cited by Al Mamlaka, measures the proportion of active AI users out of the total working-age population, is based on Microsoft platform usage data from 147 economies around the world.

 

Jordan’s strong performance, surpassing the global average of 15 per cent, highlights the country’s growing digital presence and commitment to integrating AI technologies into the workforce, despite its modest income level, the public service Al Mamlaka said.

 

Regionally, the United Arab Emirates topped the global rankings with an AI usage rate of 59.4 per cent followed by Qatar at 35.7 per cent, placing it among the top ten countries worldwide.

 

Jordan ranked next in the Arab world with 25.4 per cent, outperforming several regional peers, including Lebanon (24.8 per cent), Saudi Arabia (23.7 per cent) and Oman (22.6 per cent).

 

Other Arab countries recorded lower adoption rates, including Kuwait (17. per cent), Libya (12.7%), Egypt (12.5%), Tunisia (12.3%), Algeria (11.3%), Morocco (10.6%), Iraq (10.3%), and Syria (6.7%).

 

The report noted that the UAE is now leading the global AI adoption race, ahead of advanced economies such as Singapore, Norway, Ireland, Spain, France, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

 

According to the report, AI adoption rates are strongly linked to digital readiness and the strength of a country’s technological infrastructure.

 

Access to affordable internet and technological tools was found to be a key factor influencing usage levels.

 

The study emphasises that investing in digital infrastructure, expanding internet access, and developing digital skillsare essential to accelerating AI adoption.

 

The index relies on Microsoft’s telemetry data, reflecting real-world usage of AI tools and their close correlation with economic performance.

 

The report describes AI as the fastest-spreading technology in human history, outpacing the growth of the internet, smartphones, and personal computers. In less than three years, more than 1.2 billion people worldwide have used AI tools, signaling an unprecedented shiftin how people work, learn, and create.

 

Nearly half of the world’s population still lacks the infrastructure and connectivity needed to use AI tools, the report said.

 

Language has also emerged as a major factor, countries that use widely spoken global languages show significantly higher adoption rates than those where less common languages dominate.

 

Bridging this digital and linguistic divide, the report says, requires greater investment in digital infrastructure, education, and training.

 

Innovation alone not enough

 

The study sauid that successful AI adoption depends not only on innovation but also on the availability of strong digital infrastructure and a workforce capable of applying technology effectively.

 

The report stresses that progressive policies, robust internet networks, and high computing capacity are vital for national success in the AI era.