Check out Visual Capitalist’s Iswardi Ishak’s infographic treatment of reports from Ipsos and the UN Population Division. Ishak shows, in short, that countries with younger populations are more optimistic about AI. While some Asian countries with older populations have high AI optimism, Western countries with older populations are less optimistic.
For the most part, research shows a strong correlation between younger populations and high AI optimism. Those at the median age of 35 in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia and India consistently report the highest levels of excitement — often exceeding 65-80% — about AI products and services. Nations with median ages under 35, such as Mexico, Peru and South Africa, also report strong enthusiasm for AI.
Ishak, in the same post, has infographiced (yes, I made up that word) AI adoption rates in 2025 from a Microsoft report that provides some balance, revealing significant global variation. The UAE leads here, with an adoption rate of 64%, followed closely by Singapore at 60.9%. In Europe, Norway (46.4%), Ireland (44.6%) and France (44%) show some robust uptake, while the global average stands at just 16.3%. Adoption in the Global North averages 24.7%, compared to 14.1% in the Global South.
Numbers don’t lie
Back to Ipsos/UN Pop, which shows that while older populations tend to be more skeptical, the oddities are South Korea and Thailand, with much older median ages of 45.6 and 40.6, respectively, retaining very high optimism levels (69% and 79%). It suggests that national culture and “tech-forward” government policies can go against demographic trends.
And you would think the US would be near the top of the list, since most AI innovation is being developed there, right? Not so. There seems to be a “Western paradox,” where countries like France, Canada — and the US — show much lower enthusiasm (below 40-50%). Ishak points to research from Pew and UN MACAU Institute that there’s a growing concern that AI is likely to intrude on personal privacy, take jobs away and originate and spread misinformation. In the Microsoft report, the US ranks 24th in adoption at 28.3%, hampered by relatively low public trust, while Cambodia at just 5.1% adoption, likely because of a lack of investment and infrastructure.
What do these numbers say about AI’s future? While the US might lead in AI development right now, long-range thinking suggests that innovations will also come from elsewhere. What do you think?
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