Iranian society is rapidly integrating artificial intelligence despite sanctions, internet filtering, and war-related disruptions, with AI use embedded in daily life.

People are mainly using AI for skill training and professional activities, with women more likely to seek medical, legal advice, and counseling through AI.

A July poll shows a sizable share of Iranians aged 15 and up actively use AI tools, with a substantial portion aware but choosing not to use or being unfamiliar with AI.

Public worry persists about AI’s impact on critical thinking, misinformation, and job displacement.

Iran is advancing technologic ambitions beyond consumer AI, including artificial olfaction research for explosives and drugs.

Iran’s AI ecosystem is guided by a national 10-year plan approved in 2024, with growing domestic AI capabilities including Persian-language models like Rakhshay and Boof AI.

ChatGPT dominates Iranian AI usage, but the country is developing indigenous tools to reduce dependence on foreign platforms.

The Ramadan War damaged AI infrastructure in 2026, yet progress persisted, and Iran’s National AI Olympiad team won medals that year.

Overall, AI is presented as a resilient force for everyday life and innovation under sanctions and conflict.

Demographics show higher AI activity among women, strong alignment between education and AI familiarity, and greater urban access compared with rural areas.