Paris:AI adoption is rapidly expanding across OECD economies, with significant differences persisting among businesses and generations that could limit the benefits of digital transformation. Large firms are more than twice as likely to use AI compared to the average firm, while young people are nearly five times as likely as older adults to utilize generative AI, as noted in a new OECD report.
According to Wam, the OECD Digital Economy and Society Outlook 2026 projects that by 2025, AI adoption among enterprises with 10 or more employees across the OECD will reach 20%, compared to 52% among larger enterprises with 250 or more employees. Although smaller firms are expected to close the gap in cloud computing adoption by 2030, the disparity in AI adoption is predicted to persist without targeted support. By the end of the decade, AI uptake among large firms could be nearly 80% higher than the average across all firms.
Generational differences are also evident, with generative AI use reaching 37% in 2025, predominantly among younger, highly educated, and higher-income groups. While older adults are narrowing the Internet gap, they still lag in AI adoption, with only 14% reporting generative AI use compared to 68% of 16- to 24-year-olds. Many older adults do not see the need for AI or lack the necessary skills or awareness.
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann emphasized the need for AI adoption to spread to firms of all sizes to fully harness its potential for productivity and competitiveness. The report identifies key levers such as wider access to cloud services, targeted support for AI and big data analytics, and stronger interoperability and open standards.
Challenges such as limited access to finance, digital infrastructure, and specialized skills continue to hinder smaller businesses from adopting AI. Implementation costs, legal uncertainties, and integration difficulties also pose barriers. Despite more than half of enterprises across the OECD using cloud computing, the integrated use of AI, cloud computing, and big data analytics remains concentrated in large firms and knowledge-intensive sectors.
Investment in AI infrastructure is growing, with venture capital investment in AI firms specializing in IT infrastructure and hosting more than doubling from USD 54.5 billion in 2024 to USD 123.9 billion in 2025. The report stresses the importance of ensuring access to computing capacity, skills, and data to support wider AI development and adoption.
The report also highlights shifts in digital policymaking, moving from technology-neutral to technology-specific approaches, with AI cited frequently in policy initiatives. Digital government remains a leading policy priority, while cybersecurity has risen in prominence. The responsibility for national digital strategies is increasingly being assigned to dedicated digital ministries, reflecting a shift from previous years.
The ICT sector's growth across the OECD is estimated at 5% in 2025, with value creation and sourcing highly concentrated internationally, underscoring efficiency gains and cross-border interdependencies.