A new global study, the Public Sector AI Adoption Index 2026, reveals significant differences in how governments are implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in public services, showing that not all nations are progressing equally in turning AI strategies into practical tools for civil servants. While about 74 % of public servants globally use AI and 80 % report feeling empowered by it, only 18 % think their government uses AI very effectively, highlighting gaps between ambition and real-world use.
Among the ten countries surveyed — which include the United States, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, India, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France — France ranked last in the AI public-sector adoption index. Nearly 45 % of French public servants say they never use AI at work, and 74 % report that AI can’t perform any part of their job, despite significant national investment in AI infrastructure and ethical frameworks.
Other European nations like Germany and the United Kingdom also lag behind the global leaders, often taking a more cautious, risk-averse approach that limits hands-on access to approved tools and training. For example, while some UK civil servants have received AI training, adoption remains uneven across departments and many lack access to government-sanctioned AI tools.
At the front of the pack are Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and India, where strong leadership support, widespread daily use of AI, and comprehensive training programmes enable public servants to embed AI into everyday work. These countries combine clear guidance and practical access to technologies, helping them translate national AI strategies into improved public-sector performance more effectively than their European counterparts.
