What's happened
Recent data shows OpenAI leads enterprise AI growth in the US, while global adoption varies, with developing nations embracing open-source models like DeepSeek. Meanwhile, AI's impact on Scottish SMEs' visibility is raising concerns about future digital competitiveness.
What's behind the headline?
The data underscores a dual trend: OpenAI's dominance in US enterprise AI signals a maturing market where recurring spending replaces experimentation, solidifying its lead. Conversely, the rise of open-source models like DeepSeek in developing countries demonstrates how affordability and accessibility accelerate AI adoption outside Western markets. This divergence risks creating a digital divide, with developed nations maintaining technological advantages. For Scottish SMEs, the shift from traditional search to AI-generated answers means losing visibility unless they adapt their content strategies. The decline in organic traffic and reliance on authoritative citations favor larger firms with structured, well-cited content, disadvantaging smaller, local businesses. This evolving landscape will likely force SMEs to rethink their digital presence or risk obsolescence, while policymakers must address infrastructure gaps to prevent widening inequalities.
What the papers say
Business Insider UK highlights OpenAI's strong growth among US businesses, with 36.8% adoption in December 2025, and notes slower gains for competitors like Anthropic and Google. The report emphasizes that this growth reflects ongoing, recurring business spend rather than trial use. Meanwhile, AP News discusses the global AI adoption landscape, noting that developed countries like the UAE, Singapore, and France lead, while developing nations, especially in Africa and parts of Asia, are rapidly adopting open-source models like DeepSeek, which is freely accessible and widely used in China and Russia. The Scotsman adds a regional perspective, warning Scottish SMEs about the declining effectiveness of traditional SEO due to AI's rise, which favors authoritative sources and disadvantages smaller firms relying on local SEO. The contrasting narratives reveal a world where AI adoption is uneven, driven by infrastructure, access, and geopolitical factors, with significant implications for digital competitiveness and economic inequality.
How we got here
The rapid expansion of generative AI has reshaped digital landscapes. US companies increasingly adopt OpenAI's tools, while global disparities grow, driven by infrastructure investments and access to open-source models like DeepSeek. Meanwhile, AI's influence on search behavior threatens traditional SEO, especially for SMEs.
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