Tech giant Microsoft reports that AI technology is advancing faster than any technology in history, yet the company warns that this rapid growth will not benefit everyone equally. According to Microsoft’s “AI Diffusion Report,” billions of people worldwide risk being left behind due to barriers such as language limitations, lack of reliable electricity, and uneven access to digital infrastructure. The report highlights how AI adoption, innovation, and supporting infrastructure are spreading unevenly across different regions and communities.
While some countries and industries are rapidly integrating AI into daily operations, others face structural challenges that limit their participation. Microsoft emphasizes that without deliberate efforts to bridge these gaps, the global benefits of AI could be concentrated in a few regions, leaving vast populations without access to the transformative potential of this technology.
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Language Barriers Worsen Global Inequality in AI
While Microsoft acknowledges that AI technology is growing and spreading faster than any previous technology, the company warns that this wave of AI may not be experienced equally across the world, potentially deepening global inequality.
According to Microsoft’s AI Diffusion Report, most AI models are trained in English, effectively leaving billions of people unable to access AI tools in their native languages. While high-resource languages dominate AI training, the vast majority of the world’s 7,000 languages are excluded, limiting access for huge populations. Low-resource languages such as Hausa, Bengali, and Chichewa are especially underrepresented, meaning users in those regions cannot interact with AI tools that fail to understand them.
Microsoft emphasizes that without improvements in digital infrastructure and education, this gap could determine who benefits from AI for decades, cementing a new technological divide.
Microsoft Cites Stark Infrastructure Gap as a Major Barrier
Microsoft’s AI Diffusion Report reveals that over 1.2 billion people now use AI tools, with adoption rates far outpacing the growth of electricity, internet access, and computing devices. However, despite this rapid spread, Microsoft emphasizes that AI diffusion is highly uneven.
The report highlights a widening gap between the “haves” and “have-nots”—countries with the power, data, and skills to adopt AI, and those still struggling with basic infrastructure. Leading nations such as the UAE (59.4% adoption), Singapore (58.6%), and Norway (51.9%) benefit from abundant electricity, near-universal internet access, and digitally fluent populations. In contrast, parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America see fewer than 10% adoption, hampered by unreliable power, low internet penetration, limited device access, and insufficient digital education.
Microsoft stresses that Africa holds vast potential for AI development but warns that realizing this potential requires a coordinated and inclusive effort involving governments, education systems, industry, and civil society. “The challenge is not only scale but also coordination. Fragmented efforts and a lack of unified strategy continue to slow momentum and dilute impact,” the report states.
To harness AI for job creation and economic growth, Microsoft urges Africa to build a comprehensive skilling ecosystem, where all stakeholders collaborate to shape the AI economy.
Infrastructure remains a critical determinant of AI adoption. The US leads in data center capacity with 53.7 gigawatts (GW), followed by China (31.9GW), Germany (8.5GW), and the UK (7.4GW). The report notes that AI diffusion depends as much on electricity and computing capacity as on algorithms or data, with over 700 million people still lacking reliable power, limiting their ability to engage with AI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Microsoft’s AI Diffusion Report?
Microsoft’s report analyzes how AI adoption, infrastructure, and innovation are spreading globally. It highlights disparities in access, showing which countries and populations are benefiting most from AI technology.
How fast is AI adoption globally?
Over 1.2 billion people now use AI tools. The adoption rate is faster than any other technology, surpassing the growth of electricity, internet access, and computing devices in many regions.
Why is AI adoption uneven across countries?
AI diffusion depends on electricity, internet access, computing capacity, and digital literacy. Countries with robust infrastructure, like the UAE, Singapore, and Norway, see high adoption, while regions in Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Latin America lag.
How do language barriers affect AI access?
Most AI models are trained in English, leaving billions unable to use AI in their native languages. Low-resource languages such as Hausa, Bengali, and Chichewa are significantly underrepresented.
What role does infrastructure play in AI adoption?
AI adoption relies heavily on reliable power and computing resources. Over 700 million people still lack access to consistent electricity, and countries like the US and China dominate in data center capacity.
How can regions with low AI adoption catch up?
Microsoft recommends coordinated efforts among governments, education systems, industry, and civil society to improve infrastructure, digital literacy, and skills, enabling inclusive AI growth.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s AI Diffusion Report highlights the rapid growth of AI while drawing attention to the deepening inequalities in access and adoption. While advanced economies with robust infrastructure, digital literacy, and abundant computing resources are rapidly integrating AI, billions in low-resource regions remain left behind due to language barriers, limited electricity, poor internet connectivity, and a lack of digital skills.
