AI adoption is accelerating across the global economy, but smaller businesses risk falling further behind larger enterprises as gaps in infrastructure, skills and investment persist, according to the OECD Digital Economy and Society Outlook 2026, published November 5. 

AI adoption among large enterprises is already more than twice the average across businesses in the 38 member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which spans North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

The report estimates that 20% of enterprises with 10 or more employees used AI in 2025. Among large enterprises with at least 250 employees, adoption reached 52%. Without targeted support, the OECD expects this gap to persist, with AI uptake among large firms potentially remaining nearly 80% higher than the average by 2030.

Data and Infrastructure Gaps Constrain AI Adoption

The OECD identifies limited access to finance, digital infrastructure and specialized skills as continuing barriers to AI adoption among smaller businesses. 

Organizations also face implementation costs, uncertainty around legal and data protection requirements, and difficulties integrating AI into existing systems.

The findings highlight the importance of strengthening the foundations required for enterprise AI. Access to cloud computing, big data analytics and computing capacity remains uneven, with larger organizations and knowledge-intensive sectors better positioned to combine these technologies.

Investment in AI infrastructure is also expanding rapidly. Venture capital investment in AI companies specializing in IT infrastructure and hosting more than doubled, rising from $54.5 billion in 2024 to $123.9 billion in 2025.

For chief data officers (CDOs), the findings reinforce the importance of data infrastructure, quality and accessibility in determining how effectively organizations can deploy AI. Businesses may have access to increasingly sophisticated models, but their ability to use them at scale depends on the quality of their underlying data and the systems supporting it.

AI Adoption Is Also Reshaping Digital Policy

The report also examines how governments are responding to the rapid expansion of digital technologies. Drawing on 1,497 policy initiatives across 42 countries in 2025, the OECD finds that AI was the most frequently cited technology in digital policy initiatives.

The findings point to a broader shift in digital policymaking, with governments moving from technology-neutral approaches towards policies targeting specific technologies, including AI, quantum computing, semiconductors and satellites.

The OECD’s report suggests that closing the AI adoption gap will require more than encouraging businesses to experiment with new tools. Access to infrastructure, stronger digital capabilities and clearer policy frameworks will all play a role in determining which organizations can translate AI investment into measurable productivity gains.