2026-02-17T19:20:36.269Z
Indeed, survey data clearly shows that AI efforts are uneven across developed countries.
The graph below shows the obvious frontrunners. Ireland stands out, with around 7 in 10 workers using AI at work at least every month, followed by Australia, Germany and North America.
At the other end of the spectrum is Japan, where fewer than one in five workers report using professional AI, less than half the level of the US or UK.
One striking pattern is common to all countries. That is, personal use of AI consistently exceeds professional use.
Even in markets with high adoption rates, employees are experimenting with AI on their own faster than employers are incorporating it into their workflows. The gap is narrowest in Ireland, suggesting that workplace norms and incentives are important.
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