Kenya has emerged as the world’s leading country in artificial intelligence (AI) usage, highlighting the rapid adoption of AI-powered tools and services among internet users.
According to the Digital 2026 Mid-Year Global Update Report, 97.5 percent of Kenyan internet users aged 16 and above use AI, placing the country ahead of other markets surveyed globally.
The high adoption rate reflects the growing role of AI in the daily lives of Kenyans, with learners, employees, individuals and businesses increasingly turning to the technology to improve productivity and automate routine tasks.
AI tools have become increasingly popular among students and professionals for tasks such as research, writing, data analysis, content creation, communication and learning.
Businesses are also expanding their use of AI as companies seek to reduce operating costs, improve customer experiences and make faster decisions.
In Kenya’s financial and telecommunications sectors, AI is increasingly being used to automate customer support, strengthen fraud detection, improve credit assessment and streamline other business processes.
Safaricom is among the Kenyan companies adopting AI across its operations, with the technology being applied in areas including M-Pesa customer care and financial fraud detection.
The widespread adoption of AI in Kenya comes as access to smartphones, mobile internet and digital services continues to expand, creating a large user base for emerging technologies.
The United Arab Emirates ranked second globally, with 94.2 percent of internet users aged 16 and above using AI, followed by Indonesia at 93.6 percent.
Egypt ranked fourth with an AI usage rate of 93.4 percent, further highlighting the strong adoption of artificial intelligence in emerging markets.
Several other African countries also recorded high levels of AI usage.
South Africa recorded an adoption rate of 89.9 percent, while Nigeria followed closely at 89.4 percent.
Kenya’s position at the top of the ranking underscores the country’s growing reputation as a technology and innovation hub in Africa.
The country has developed a strong digital ecosystem over the past decade, driven by widespread mobile money adoption, expanding internet connectivity and the growth of technology startups and digital financial services.
The increasing use of AI is also creating new opportunities for businesses and workers while raising the need for greater digital skills.
For companies, AI can help automate repetitive tasks, analyse large amounts of information and improve customer engagement. For employees and entrepreneurs, the technology offers tools that can support research, content production, planning and other professional activities.
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