OpenAI flags AI adoption gap in Europe despite 8-fold surge in agent use among small businesses

OpenAI has highlighted a widening opportunity for European businesses to turn growing artificial intelligence (AI) adoption into higher productivity, as AI agents now account for more than half of the output generated through its enterprise and business platforms in the European Union (EU).

OpenAI has highlighted a widening opportunity for European businesses to turn growing artificial intelligence (AI) adoption into higher productivity, as AI agents now account for more than half of the output generated through its enterprise and business platforms in the European Union (EU).

In its latest report, OpenAI said businesses need to move beyond experimenting with AI and use tools that can carry out tasks from planning to completion.

The report identified improving access to advanced AI capabilities, along with building workers' skills and confidence, as key steps towards achieving greater economic benefits.

"Europe is now in a new era of AI, with tools that can carry out tasks for people," OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar said, adding that "giving people the tools, skills and confidence to use AI well will help build stronger businesses and growing economies, with benefits felt across Europe".

According to the report, AI agents used through Codex and ChatGPT Work accounted for more than 50 per cent of output tokens generated by EU firms by the end of September. The analysis was based on ChatGPT Enterprise and Business accounts.

The report also found that weekly active use of AI agents among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in the EU increased more than eightfold between early May and October 5, 2026. The growth followed the introduction of ChatGPT Work in July, OpenAI said.

SMBs account for 63 per cent of private-sector employment in the EU and contribute more than 5 trillion euros to the bloc's economy annually, according to the report.

However, the pace of adoption varies across member states. Lithuania recorded the highest share of agentic AI use at 85 per cent of output tokens in September, followed by Cyprus at 81 per cent and Hungary at 79 per cent. Slovenia reported the lowest share at 22 per cent.

Growth in weekly active AI agent users among SMBs also differed across countries. Belgium recorded a 12.1-fold increase from its early-May level, followed by Italy at 10.8 times and Luxembourg at 10 times. Every EU country recorded growth of more than five times over the period.

OpenAI also highlighted a gap between European businesses and global leaders in intensive AI use. EU-based companies accounted for nearly 10 per cent of global frontier firms, defined as the top 10 per cent of businesses by AI output tokens per active user, while North America accounted for around 65 per cent.

In September, leading EU firms generated more than four times the output tokens per active user of typical EU firms. However, global frontier firms outside the EU generated more than twice the output of their European counterparts.

The report said Europe could strengthen business performance and productivity by helping companies move beyond experimentation and making advanced AI tools more accessible and affordable.

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