The gap between businesses adopting artificial intelligence and those yet to make use of the technology is set to persist, with larger organisations continuing to pull ahead of smaller firms, according to new research from the OECD.

Its Digital Economy and Society Outlook 2026 found that 20% of enterprises with 10 or more employees across OECD countries were using AI in 2025. However, adoption among large businesses – those with 250 or more employees – stood at 52%, making them more than twice as likely to be using the technology.

The divide is expected to remain without targeted support. The OECD projects that, by the end of the decade, AI uptake among large firms could be nearly 80% higher than the average across all businesses. While smaller companies are expected to narrow the gap in cloud computing adoption by 2030, the report suggests that progress in AI will be less evenly distributed.

Limited access to finance, digital infrastructure and specialist skills are among the factors restricting adoption among smaller businesses. Other barriers include the cost of implementation, uncertainty around legal and data protection requirements, and difficulties integrating AI into existing systems.

OECD Secretary-General, Mathias Cormann, said: “AI adoption among firms continues to expand. But to make the most of AI’s potential for productivity and competitiveness, we need to make sure adoption spreads to firms of every size. Our Outlook points to the levers to get there – wider access to cloud services, targeted support for AI and big data analytics, and stronger interoperability and open standards.”

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