A new Gallup survey has found that only fifteen percent of Pakistanis have used AI tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek, leaving the country behind global adoption trends.
The Gallup Pakistan report shows that eighty-five percent of citizens remain unaware of AI chatbot technology, indicating the country is still in a very early and limited phase of AI adoption.
Among Pakistanis with lower levels of education, only eight percent report using AI tools, while those with higher educational qualifications use AI at a rate of fifty-two percent.
This forty-four percentage point gap between educated and less-educated users highlights a significant digital divide that currently shapes AI access across Pakistani society.
Younger Pakistanis under the age of thirty lead AI usage at twenty-six percent, while those aged thirty to thirty-nine report a significantly lower adoption rate of only ten percent.
Adoption continues to decline with age, with eight percent usage among those aged forty to forty-nine and just seven percent among those in the fifty to fifty-nine age group.
Experts have stated that expanding digital education and raising public awareness across the country could lead to a rapid and significant increase in AI adoption among Pakistani citizens.
Pakistan Targets $1B AI Drive by 2030
Earlier this year, Pakistan unveiled plans to invest $1 billion in AI by 2030 as part of a broader push to modernize its economy and compete in the digital age.
The strategy aims to integrate AI across agriculture, healthcare, finance, governance, and smart infrastructure, positioning Pakistan as a competitive player in the global digital economy.
The policy sets ambitious goals: train one million AI professionals, establish innovation funds, launch 50,000 civic projects, and develop 1,000 local AI products by 2030.
The proposal includes 3,000 annual AI scholarships, 1,000 research projects, inclusive education financing for women and disabled persons, stronger cybersecurity, and partnerships aligned with international AI standards.
5G Launch
Last month, the government successfully concluded 5G spectrum auction, selling 480 megahertz for $507 million.
Pakistan offered pectrum across multiple bands, including 700MHz for $32.5m, 1,800MHz for $16.8m, 2,100MHz for $70m, 2,300MHz for $10m, 2,600MHz for $12.5m, and 3,500MHz for $6.5m
