On 5 November 2026 the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development released its Digital Economy and Society Outlook 2026, reporting that artificial intelligence use is spreading quickly across OECD economies while large gaps remain among businesses and generations.
In 2025, AI was used by an estimated 20% of enterprises with 10 or more employees across the OECD, compared with 52% of large firms (250 or more employees). Without targeted support, the Outlook projects that by the end of the decade AI uptake among large firms could be nearly 80% higher than the average across all firms. Generative AI use among individuals reached 37% in 2025, but only 14% of older adults reported using it, against 68% of 16- to 24-year-olds. Many older adults said they saw no need for AI, or cited a lack of skills or awareness.
OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said wider cloud access, targeted support for AI and big data analytics, and stronger interoperability and open standards are needed so firms of every size can benefit. The report also notes that AI was the digital technology most often cited in policy initiatives in 2025 across 42 countries, and that cybersecurity rose to second place among digital policy priorities. The call to close these gaps aligns with concern that technology serve the common good and those most easily left behind.
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