AI news
Microsoft's AI Economy Institute released its Q1 2026 Global AI Diffusion Report, revealing that generative AI usage now reaches 17.8% of the world's working--age population. The United Arab Emirates leads the global rankings with a 70.1% adoption rate, while the United States rose to 21st place (31.3%). A significant trend identified is the widening 'AI gap' between the Global North (27.5% usage) and the Global South (15.4%). Despite concerns over automation, the report notes that U.S. software developer employment reached a record 2.2 million in 2025, with March 2026 data showing a further 4% year--over--year increase, suggesting that AI--driven productivity is currently stimulating rather than replacing developer roles.