France falls to the bottom of global AI adoption rankings for 2026

The global race to integrate artificial intelligence into public life is moving at wildly different speeds, according to the Public Sector AI Adoption Index 2026.

Despite the high-tech ambitions of many leaders, the reality on the ground is often far less advanced.

The study, conducted by Public First, reveals that while public servants worldwide are using AI at a rate of 74%, only 18% of them see their governments using it effectively.

France has surprisingly slumped to the bottom of the rankings. Nearly 45% of French public servants say they never use AI, and a staggering 74% believe AI could not perform any part of their job.

Experts suggest that while France has invested heavily in infrastructure, a lack of hands-on experience has left the workforce unconvinced of its value.

This has led to "shadow AI" use, where employees utilise tools without official approval or guidance.

Across the Channel, the UK is showing some progress, with 37 per cent of public servants receiving AI training, yet adoption remains patchy.

Meanwhile, Germany is described as risk-averse, keeping AI confined to small pilot schemes. These European nations are being outpaced by Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and India.

These leading countries have successfully combined strong leadership with accessible tools and robust training programmes.

It is a sobering reminder that having the technology is only half the battle; the real challenge lies in convincing the people behind the desks that these tools can actually make their working lives better.