A recent study by StarApple AI has found the Caribbean trailing the rest of the world in its adoption of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), as only 13 per cent of adults aged 18 to 65 currently use the technology.

This figure stands in sharp contrast to global estimates, which shows about 55 per cent of adults worldwide now engaging with GenAI tools, especially popular platforms such as ChatGPT.

Broader regional data reinforcing this trend, earlier this year, saw the latest edition of the Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA) ranked Jamaica at 13th out of 19 countries. The report, published by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), indicated that while there is strong interest and enthusiasm for AI — reflected in the development of national policies — this has not yet been matched by decisive action or significant investment. With the region accounting for about 6.6 per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and 8.8 per cent of the world’s population, it now receives only about 1.12 per cent of global AI investment.

Lead researcher and CEO of StarApple AI Adrian Dunkley commenting on the study’s findings said that despite the slow pace of AI adoption in the Caribbean, the challenges faced are solvable.

“What the study has found is a region that is not behind on AI, but one behind on the governance, the training, and the process redesigns that can turn AI use into AI benefit. That is a solvable problem. It is also a problem most organisations everywhere are solving badly, which means that the firms that can solve it well in 2026 will hold a real advantage for the next five years,” he said.

Despite its relatively low adoption rate, the study, however, said the Caribbean shows a notable strength in AI fluency. According to Dunkley, individuals who do use AI tools tend to do so effectively, suggesting that the region has a solid foundation on which to build.

“This combination of low uptake but high competence points to untapped potential that could be realised with the right institutional support,” he noted.

The report highlighting deeper insight into how AI is being used across the region further showed where approximately 8.2 per cent of Caribbean people were actively using generative AI tools, while adoption among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises stands at 19 per cent. Employees who incorporate AI into their work, the report said, were able to save an average of 1.5 hours per work period. This, as about 43 per cent of AI use was focused on augmentation — supporting human tasks — rather than full automation.

When compared with global trends, other studies done by entities such as McKinsey and Microsoft show where internationally about 16.3 per cent of people have been using GenAI, while 72 per cent of enterprises have adopted it in some form. Productivity gains were also significantly higher, with global users reporting average time savings of 5.7 hours. In addition, 52 per cent of AI use globally is centred on augmentation, slightly above the Caribbean’s share.

Dunkley said these disparities suggest that while AI is present in Caribbean workplaces, it is not yet embedded in a way that delivers substantial productivity gains.

“The relatively modest time savings indicate that many organisations are still using the technology in limited or ad hoc ways rather than integrating it into redesigned workflows that maximise efficiency,” he said.

The study, in its conclusion, stressed that as the Caribbean approaches a critical turning point, having a stronger base of capable users and increased exposure among businesses presents clear opportunities for countries to scale adoption through improved governance, targeted training, and deliberate efforts to rethink how work is done.

“If these challenges are addressed, the region could shift from being perceived as a slow adopter to becoming a more strategic one, leveraging its existing strengths to unlock the full economic potential of artificial intelligence,” the researchers said.

DUNKLEY…what the study has found is a region that is not behind on AI, but one behind on the governance, the training, and the process redesigns that can turn AI use into AI benefit