Generative AI Adoption Surges to Nearly Half of French Population by 2026

By early 2026, generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT have seen a remarkable rise in adoption across France, with 48% of the population now using these tools, according to the 2026 Baromètre du numérique study by Crédoc. This marks a significant jump from 20% just two years earlier in 2023, outpacing the early adoption rates of smartphones and the internet in France.

The study reveals stark generational divides: 85% of 18-24 year-olds engage with AI tools regularly, compared to only 15% of those over 70, and 33% of those aged 60-69 use them. Professionally, 77% of artisans, merchants, and business leaders utilize generative AI, whereas only 38% of manual workers do. Usage spans a variety of applications including writing assistance (58%), idea generation (57%), content creation (42%), coding (30%), and homework help (73% among younger users). ChatGPT holds dominance as the leading conversational AI tool with 63% usage, followed by Google’s Gemini at 13%.

Despite widespread use, skepticism remains prevalent. While 73% of users trust the technology, many actively verify AI outputs, and overall, 52% of respondents express distrust—primarily due to concerns about data privacy and the reliability of AI-generated information. Furthermore, only 44% of the general population believe AI will have a positive impact on their daily lives over the next 20 years, which is below the 55% European average.

This rapid diffusion in AI use highlights both the enthusiasm among younger and professional demographics and the cautious outlook held by the broader French population as these technologies become embedded in daily life.