South Africa’s AI Future Is Leaving Millions Behind

Low computer ownership and uneven digital literacy mean many South Africans are still excluded from the basic tools needed to participate in an AI-driven economy. On the surface, South Africa’s digital credentials tell only part of the story. The country ranks 46th out of 147 economies in Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Report for Q1 2026, ahead of every other African country measured, and its generative AI usage has risen to 23.1% of the working-age population.