Seoul ranked third overall and first in artificial intelligence adoption and use in the 2026 AI Cities Index released by The Observer, according to the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The San Francisco Bay Area topped the ranking, followed by New York, while Seoul placed ahead of Beijing, Paris and London.

The index evaluated 57 cities across 36 countries in three AI categories: investment, innovation, and adoption and use. It drew on 50 indicators, combining quantitative data with qualitative field research.

The adoption and use category measures how well infrastructure, institutions and systems support AI applications across businesses, government, education and communities.

The Observer cited Seoul’s support for small and medium-sized enterprises through its AI Innovation Committee and its strong semiconductor industry, led by Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.


don@heraldcorp.com