Saudi Arabia's AI Adoption Doubles in One Year, Reaching 45% of Internet Users

Saudi Arabia's use of AI tools has surged dramatically. The kingdom's fifth annual Saudi Internet Report, published by the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), shows that 45.2% of internet users now use AI tools, more than double the prior year's rate, coinciding with the government's launch of the "Year of Artificial Intelligence 2026."

The data reveals important demographic patterns. Women lead adoption at 52.8% versus 39.4% for men. The 20-to-29 age group is the highest at 55.7%, with the 10-to-19 cohort close behind at 53.4%. Usage declines with age, reaching 27.4% for those aged 50-59 and 14.8% for those aged 60-74.

Key takeaways:

• ChatGPT ranked first among downloaded AI apps in Saudi Arabia, followed by Google Gemini and DeepSeek. The national HUMAIN platform also appeared on the list, signaling domestic AI development alongside global adoption.
• Internet access among those aged 60-74 rose from 88.9% to 92.8% in a single year, narrowing the digital divide for older populations at the same time AI adoption is accelerating.
• Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in the ITU's Digital Readiness Framework 2025, reflecting the impact of sustained government investment aligned with Vision 2030.

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