France ranked last in the Public Sector AI Adoption Index 2026, published by Public First for the Center for Data Innovation with sponsorship from Google. The study found that nearly 45 percent of French public servants never use AI at work, while 74 percent believe AI cannot perform any part of their job.
Despite France’s heavy investment in AI infrastructure and ethical guidelines, the report noted that limited hands-on experience has left many public sector workers unconvinced about AI’s ability to improve efficiency. Researchers also warned that some employees who do use AI may be doing so without official approval.
Germany and the United Kingdom also fell behind global leaders. Germany was placed among risk-averse countries where AI use is largely confined to specialists and pilot projects. The UK showed some improvement, with 37 percent of public servants receiving AI training, but adoption remains inconsistent across departments.
According to the index, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and India emerged as leading countries, benefiting from strong leadership, widespread access to AI tools and structured training programmes. While 74 percent of public servants globally report using AI, only 18 percent believe their governments are using it effectively.
