As AI turns into extra ubiquitous, studies present rising gaps each in digital abilities and entry to sources wanted to thrive on this new world. The fast scale and tempo of change additionally make it extra crucial to know not simply who’s adopting new applied sciences, however how we’re utilizing them and who is really benefiting.
Addressing these challenges is central to the work of Cisco’s Digital Influence Workplace, which is devoted to increasing digital inclusion and connecting extra individuals to the worldwide digital economic system. As a part of our dedication, we additionally partnered with the Organisation for Financial Cooperation and Improvement (OECD) to create the Digital Nicely-being Hub, which dives deeper into the complicated relationships between AI and digitization in addition to their impression on individuals’s lives and well-being.
These are a couple of of the findings from the research. 1 2
Rising economies lead the cost in AI adoption
Younger adults underneath 35 are essentially the most lively customers of digital know-how worldwide. In rising economies surveyed — India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa — this engagement is particularly sturdy. That is partly as a result of youthful demographics in these areas; a major share of the inhabitants is underneath 35, and Africa, for instance, has a median age of simply 19. Younger adults in these nations are adopting AI applied sciences, constructing abilities, and making ready for AI-related careers at outstanding charges, in comparison with their friends within the 10 different nations we studied.
This progress is particularly spectacular as a result of these nations have traditionally confronted main limitations to digital adoption, usually falling behind extra economically developed nations in entry, infrastructure, and digital abilities. The 2025 World Financial Discussion board’s International Dangers Report highlights that rising economies can bypass conventional phases of know-how adoption by embracing superior digital instruments and infrastructure, a dynamic also known as leapfrogging. Youthful populations in these areas can speed up this progress, serving to to slim the digital divide and form the way forward for digital innovation.
From generative AI to technology AI
We’re seeing a transparent generational divide with regards to AI. Adults over 45 are a lot much less doubtless to make use of AI of their every day lives, and greater than half don’t use it in any respect. Additionally they present decrease charges of AI coaching, with many having no plans to study extra as they grow old. In distinction, youthful adults surveyed are embracing AI at outstanding charges. Greater than half of adults underneath 35 actively use AI, over 75% see its worth, and practically half of these aged 26 to 35 have already accomplished some type of AI coaching.
In relation to belief, older adults are additionally much less prone to say they belief AI. However curiously, many over 55 don’t specific outright mistrust — they merely say they’re not sure. This distinction issues, as a result of belief is a uniquely human idea and might not be the very best benchmark for our relationship with know-how. Typically, this uncertainty can come from a scarcity of familiarity moderately than true resistance or rejection. That is one thing many can relate to, and it’s one thing we are able to tackle collectively by making AI extra approachable for everybody.
Earlier Cisco analysis signifies that generational variations in AI readiness can grow to be an organizational problem with AI adoption. Since AI success hinges on a talented workforce, corporations with a better proportion of workers who’re unfamiliar or untrained in AI will battle to transition from pilot packages to manufacturing. In line with the 2025 Cisco AI Readiness Index, solely 14% of organizations worldwide are totally ready to scale AI responsibly, with the largest barrier being a scarcity of AI-skilled expertise. The businesses that are already seeing actual outcomes are 4 instances extra prone to transfer AI pilots into manufacturing, 50% extra prone to notice worth, and considerably outperform friends in income positive aspects and ROI.
Closing the gaps
This want for organizational readiness is a part of a wider transformation underway within the workforce. The job market is experiencing a seismic shift. In line with the newest Way forward for Jobs Report from the World Financial Discussion board, by 2030, 170 million new jobs are anticipated to emerge, and 92 million jobs might be displaced. We’re already beginning to see abilities disruption. Cisco leads the AI Workforce Consortium to handle AI’s impression on the ICT workforce, working alongside companions like Microsoft, Google, IBM, and different world leaders. Our reporting so far has projected that 90% of ICT roles will expertise reasonable or excessive transformation, and that AI roles are actually driving tech market progress. And the stakes are excessive: the World Financial Discussion board initiatives it’s going to value G20 nations $11.5 trillion of cumulative GDP progress by 2028 if digital abilities gaps aren’t addressed.
These abilities traits are exactly why Cisco has made skilling central to our innovation technique, and why our Consortium of worldwide business leaders has dedicated to upskilling and reskilling 95 million people worldwide over the following decade. On the coronary heart of this effort is the Cisco Networking Academy, our flagship skilling program that gives free coaching to anybody with web entry. Since 1997, we have helped 28 million learners throughout 190 nations construct the abilities they want for the digital future.
The implications of connection
As with all know-how, we want to consider its impression on our well-being. The OECD and Cisco analysis suggests that in rising economies main in AI adoption, younger adults have the best leisure display time, together with digital-only socializing, and sometimes really feel stronger emotional highs and lows from know-how.
Moreover, the analysis exhibits a “Goldilocks impact”: well-being is highest with reasonable display time (1–3 hours a day) however drops with each an excessive amount of and too little. In actual fact, individuals with no display time report the bottom life satisfaction, suggesting that some digital engagement is now necessary for wellbeing.
On the similar time, the analysis exhibits components like sleep, monetary stability, and bodily exercise matter much more for well-being than display time itself. As digital and real-life mix collectively, we want to ensure know-how helps — not harms — our well being and happiness.
Making certain AI advantages everybody, all over the place
A key mark of success for AI and digital transformation ought to not simply be how shortly know-how is adopted, however whether or not it genuinely improves lives throughout all ages, backgrounds, and geographies. Reaching this requires sturdy partnerships. Our collaboration with the OECD is a primary instance, offering important steerage to bridge digital abilities gaps, advance digital literacy for all ages, and make sure that well-being stays on the coronary heart of innovation. Collectively, throughout academia, authorities, and business, we are able to create a digital future that’s inclusive and wholesome for everybody.
Go to the Digital Nicely-being Hub to discover our partnership and study how one can assist construct a extra resilient and inclusive digital world.
