Artificial intelligence is emerging as the guiding thread of OECD countries’ digital policies.
On the ground of usages, however, the picture drawn by its annual study Digital Economy and Society Outlook 2026 is far from uniform.
The figures published by the organization reveal a highly uneven diffusion, depending on the size of companies as well as the age of users.
First takeaway: the computing power dedicated to AI is now regarded as a strategic asset. Venture capital invested in AI companies active in infrastructure and hosting more than doubled within a year, rising from $54.5 billion in 2024 to $123.9 billion in 2025. This segment captured nearly half of all venture funding aimed at AI.
This rush toward computing has a direct consequence on networks. The OECD notes an increased demand for high-capacity, resilient, and affordable connectivity.
The numbers bear this out. By the end of 2025, fiber accounted for 51% of fixed broadband subscriptions in the region, up from 31% five years earlier, while the share of Gigabit subscriptions had been multiplied sixfold between 2020 and 2025.
Adoption Still the Preserve of Large Groups
On the corporate side, the gap is clear. In 2025, 20% of all OECD-area businesses (with ten employees or more) use AI, compared with 52% of large enterprises. The combined use of AI, cloud, and big data analytics remains concentrated in large organizations and in sectors with high knowledge intensity.
The available elements do not detail, sector by sector, which industries are the most advanced.
The divide is just as clear among individuals.
In 2025, 68% of 16- to 24-year-olds use generative AI, compared with only 14% of those aged 55 to 74. Among the latter, the main barrier is lack of interest: 43% do not see its usefulness. Next come skills gaps (12%) and unfamiliarity with the technology (9%).
AI Dominates National Digital Strategies
On the public policy side, no technology contests its prominence: AI is mentioned 607 times in national digital initiatives and strategies in 2025, far ahead of cloud (134 occurrences) and 5G (109).
Followed by quantum technologies (61), blockchain (34), the Internet of Things (19) and 6G (18). The OECD also notes that quantum technologies, semiconductors and satellites have significantly grown in importance since 2023.
What the OECD Expects from Governments
Facing these dynamics, the organization advocates for a coordinated approach at the state level, structured around its Going Digital framework with the following priorities:
- continue expanding broadband coverage to close geographic gaps, and adapt regulation to build secure and sustainable networks;
- facilitate access to cloud services and support the adoption of AI and big data, while strengthening complementary skills to reduce gaps between businesses;
- adjust governance frameworks to harness the benefits of AI while managing its risks.
Risks to Watch
The OECD’s findings highlight several points of vigilance:
- a potential widening of competitiveness gaps between large enterprises and SMEs,
- increasing digital exclusion of older populations,
- the need to adapt skills and employment policies,
- vulnerabilities tied to the concentration of the ICT supply chain and international dependencies.
