G7 large-firm-to-small-firm AI adoption ratio
Ratio of AI adoption rates between larger and smaller firms within each G7 country, latest available year. Compiled by the OECD from national survey sources (see paper Table A.2). Cross-country comparison must be cautious — firm-size brackets differ across countries.
Ratios (larger : smaller)
| Country | Ratio | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | ~4.7× | Largest divide in G7 |
| France | ~3.85× | |
| Germany | ~2.85× | |
| Japan | ~2.0× | Smaller firms = 100–199 emp; larger = 300+ |
| Canada | ~1.9× | Smaller = 5–19 emp; larger = 100+ |
| UK | ~1.85× | |
| US | ~1.65× | Smallest divide in G7; smaller = 20–49 emp |
What it says
The EU bloc shows the widest firm-size gaps in AI adoption (Italy 4.7×, France 3.85×, Germany 2.85×). The Anglo bloc shows the narrowest (US 1.65×, UK 1.85×, Canada 1.9×). Japan sits in between.
This is a striking pattern: countries with the most ambitious SME-targeted policy (Italy’s Competence Centres, France’s IA Booster, Germany’s Mittelstand-Digital) also have the largest outcome divides. Either (a) policies are too recent to have closed the gap, (b) underlying SME density and firm-size distribution makes the EU divide structurally larger, or (c) policy is failing to reach the bottom of the distribution.
Cross-reference
- g7-sme-ai-policy-pluralism for the policy-stance side.
- H2_u-curve-of-value — if the bottom of the U is where SMEs reach the application layer, the EU is the bloc with the thinnest bottom-right tail.
- sme-connectivity-divide — connectivity gaps may underpin the adoption gaps.
G7 trend (Figure A.1, % of firms adopting AI)
UK and Germany jumped the most 2024 → 2025 (UK 16.1% → 20.5%; Germany 11.6% → 19.7%). Italy, France, Canada, US all in single digits or low-teens. Japan stable around 18%.
Source: OECD compilation from national surveys (see Table A.2). Figure A.1, Figure A.2.