As AI turns into extra ubiquitous, experiences present rising gaps each in digital expertise and entry to sources wanted to thrive on this new world. The speedy scale and tempo of change additionally make it extra crucial to grasp not simply who’s adopting new applied sciences, however how we’re utilizing them and who is actually benefiting.
Addressing these challenges is central to the work of Cisco’s Digital Impression Workplace, which is devoted to increasing digital inclusion and connecting extra folks to the worldwide digital financial system. As a part of our dedication, we additionally partnered with the Organisation for Financial Cooperation and Growth (OECD) to create the Digital Properly-being Hub, which dives deeper into the advanced relationships between AI and digitization in addition to their impression on folks’s lives and well-being.
These are just a few of the findings from the research. 1 2
Rising economies lead the cost in AI adoption
Younger adults below 35 are essentially the most energetic customers of digital expertise worldwide. In rising economies surveyed — India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa — this engagement is very sturdy. That is partly as a result of youthful demographics in these areas; a major share of the inhabitants is below 35, and Africa, for instance, has a median age of simply 19. Younger adults in these international locations are adopting AI applied sciences, constructing expertise, and getting ready for AI-related careers at exceptional charges, in comparison with their friends within the 10 different international locations we studied.
This progress is very spectacular as a result of these international locations have traditionally confronted main boundaries to digital adoption, usually falling behind extra economically developed nations in entry, infrastructure, and digital expertise. The 2025 World Financial Discussion board’s International Dangers Report highlights that rising economies can bypass conventional levels of expertise 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 on the subject of AI. Adults over 45 are a lot much less seemingly 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 be taught extra as they grow old. In distinction, youthful adults surveyed are embracing AI at exceptional charges. Greater than half of adults below 35 actively use AI, over 75% see its worth, and almost half of these aged 26 to 35 have already accomplished some type of AI coaching.
On the subject of belief, older adults are additionally much less prone to say they belief AI. However curiously, many over 55 don’t categorical outright mistrust — they merely say they’re not sure. This distinction issues, as a result of belief is a uniquely human idea and is probably not the perfect benchmark for our relationship with expertise. 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 handle collectively by making AI extra approachable for everybody.
Earlier Cisco analysis signifies that generational variations in AI readiness can turn into an organizational problem with AI adoption. Since AI success hinges on a talented workforce, firms with a better proportion of staff who’re unfamiliar or untrained in AI will battle to transition from pilot packages to manufacturing. In accordance with the 2025 Cisco AI Readiness Index, solely 14% of organizations worldwide are totally ready to scale AI responsibly, with the most important barrier being a scarcity of AI-skilled expertise. The businesses that are already seeing actual outcomes are 4 occasions extra prone to transfer AI pilots into manufacturing, 50% extra prone to notice worth, and considerably outperform friends in income good points 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 accordance 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 expertise 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 international leaders. Our reporting so far has projected that 90% of ICT roles will expertise average or excessive transformation, and that AI roles are actually driving tech market development. And the stakes are excessive: the World Financial Discussion board tasks it’s going to price G20 international locations $11.5 trillion of cumulative GDP development by 2028 if digital expertise gaps are usually not addressed.
These expertise developments are exactly why Cisco has made skilling central to our innovation technique, and why our Consortium of worldwide trade leaders has dedicated to upskilling and reskilling 95 million people worldwide over the subsequent decade. On the coronary heart of this effort is the Cisco Networking Academyour flagship skilling program that provides free coaching to anybody with web entry. Since 1997, we have helped 28 million learners throughout 190 international locations construct the abilities they want for the digital future.
The results of connection
As with every expertise, we’d like 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 very best leisure display screen time, together with digital-only socializing, and infrequently really feel stronger emotional highs and lows from expertise.
Moreover, the analysis reveals a “Goldilocks impact”: well-being is highest with average display screen time (1–3 hours a day) however drops with each an excessive amount of and too little. Actually, folks with no display screen time report the bottom life satisfaction, suggesting that some digital engagement is now necessary for wellbeing.
On the identical time, the analysis reveals components like sleep, monetary stability, and bodily exercise matter much more for well-being than display screen time itself. As digital and real-life mix collectively, we’d like to ensure expertise 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 expertise is adopted, however whether or not it genuinely improves lives throughout all ages, backgrounds, and geographies. Attaining this requires sturdy partnerships. Our collaboration with the OECD is a chief instance, offering important steering to bridge digital expertise gaps, advance digital literacy for all ages, and be sure that well-being stays on the coronary heart of innovation. Collectively, throughout academia, authorities, and trade, we are able to create a digital future that’s inclusive and wholesome for everybody.
Go to the Digital Properly-being Hub to discover our partnership and be taught how one can assist construct a extra resilient and inclusive digital world.
