New study reveals 42.1% of Kenyan internet users over 16 actively use OpenAI’s chatbot, outpacing developed economies
Kenya has emerged as the global leader in ChatGPT usage, with 42.1% of its internet users aged over 16 actively using the artificial intelligence platform, according to a comprehensive new study by Datareportal, a leading global internet research firm.
The groundbreaking report, which surveyed internet users across multiple countries to determine ChatGPT usage patterns in the preceding month, positions Kenya ahead of traditionally tech-forward nations including the United Arab Emirates (42%) and Israel (41.4%), which rounded out the top three globally.
Africa Shows Strong AI Adoption
The study reveals a remarkable trend across the African continent, with Kenya leading a wave of AI adoption that challenges conventional assumptions about technology uptake in developing economies. South Africa claimed the eighth position globally with 34.3% of its population using ChatGPT, significantly ahead of Egypt (18th) and Nigeria (19th) in the global rankings.
This African surge contrasts sharply with adoption rates in major developed economies. Japan recorded just 5.8% usage among its internet population, while China registered 7.3% and Russia 10.8% – all significantly lower than the African leaders.
Digital-First Generation Drives Usage
Kenya’s dominance in ChatGPT adoption aligns with broader digital behavior patterns identified in previous studies.
The country already holds the global record for social media usage, with Kenyans spending an average of 3 hours and 43 minutes daily on social networks – well above the global average of 2 hours and 23 minutes, according to a November 2024 report by Cable.co.uk.
The convergence of high social media engagement and AI tool adoption suggests Kenya’s internet users represent a digitally native population eager to embrace new technologies for productivity, creativity, and communication.
Transforming Work and Daily Life
ChatGPT, developed by Microsoft-backed OpenAI and launched in November 2022, has become a versatile tool for natural language processing tasks.
Kenyan users are deploying the platform for content creation, coding assistance, language translation, and educational support, reflecting the platform’s integration into both professional and personal workflows.
The timing of Kenya’s leadership comes as global AI chatbot applications experienced their highest growth in consumer usage and spending in 2024.
A joint Microsoft-LinkedIn study revealed that generative AI usage nearly doubled in six months, with 75% of knowledge workers worldwide incorporating these tools into their daily routines.
Kenya’s position at the forefront of AI adoption presents both opportunities and challenges for the East African nation. The widespread embrace of AI tools suggests strong potential for productivity gains across sectors, from education and healthcare to agriculture and financial services.
However, this rapid adoption also raises questions about digital infrastructure capacity.
As AI applications become more sophisticated and data-intensive, Kenya’s power grid and internet infrastructure face increasing demands. Industry experts have noted concerns about the hidden costs of AI rollout on national power systems.
Regional Leadership in Tech Innovation
The study reinforces Kenya’s role as a technology hub in East Africa, building on the country’s established leadership in mobile money innovation and fintech development.
The high ChatGPT adoption rate suggests Kenyan users are not just consumers of technology but active participants in the global AI revolution.
With AI-related searches in Africa rising 270% over the past year according to Google data, and 27% of Kenyans using ChatGPT daily according to Stanford’s 2024 AI Index, the country appears well-positioned to leverage artificial intelligence for economic development and social progress.
As OpenAI continues to expand ChatGPT’s capabilities and roll out new features, Kenya’s early adoption advantage could translate into significant competitive benefits.
The platform’s user base is projected to surpass 1 billion globally in 2025, with Kenya likely to maintain its leadership position as AI tools become increasingly integrated into education, business, and governance.
The study serves as a reminder that the AI revolution is not confined to Silicon Valley or traditional tech powerhouses. Instead, it reveals how digital-first societies like Kenya are embracing these transformative technologies to solve local challenges and create new opportunities for growth and innovation.
