Accelerated increase in the use of AI by individuals in OECD member countries - OECD Data
A recent study published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) highlights the rapid expansion of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technologies among individuals and businesses.
In 2025, more than one third of citizens across OECD member countries reported using generative AI tools, illustrating how quickly these technologies are becoming integrated into everyday life. At the same time, AI adoption among companies is also expanding. In 2025, 20.2% of firms reported using AI, a sharp increase compared with 14.2% in 2024 and 8.7% in 2023, meaning that adoption has more than doubled in just two years.
However, the uptake of these technologies remains uneven across countries, industries and population groups.
Strong differences between population groups
Generative AI is particularly popular among younger people and students. According to OECD data, three-quarters of students aged 16 and over report using GenAI tools, making them the most active users among all population groups.
AI tools are also widely used among people connected to the labour market. Around 41.1% of employed individuals and 36.7% of unemployed individuals report using generative AI. In contrast, pensioners and other groups outside the labour market show significantly lower levels of adoption, with only 12.5% reporting use.
Nordic countries leading business adoption
At the company level, adoption also varies significantly between countries. Nordic countries are among the leaders in the use of AI in the private sector. In Denmark, Finland and Sweden, more than 35% of firms report using AI technologies, placing them at the forefront of digital innovation among OECD economies.
These trends suggest that advanced digital ecosystems and strong technological infrastructure play an important role in accelerating AI adoption.
Firm size and industry matter
The OECD data also reveal significant disparities between companies depending on their size. Large firms are far more likely to adopt AI technologies than smaller businesses. In 2025, 52% of large firms reported using AI, compared with only 17.4% of small firms.
This gap reflects the fact that larger organisations generally have greater financial resources, technical expertise and data infrastructure to deploy AI solutions.
Adoption also differs significantly across industries. At the OECD level:
- 57.3% of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) firms report using AI
- 36.8% of professional and scientific services firms use AI
- 19.1% of firms in the manufacturing sector report adopting AI technologies
