BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 129

Artificial Intelligence

In March 2025 (Wave 129), businesses were asked if they use any of the following Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies:

• Autonomous vehicles
• Data processing using machine learning
• Image processing using machine learning
• Robotics
• Text generation using Large Language Models
• Visual content creation
• Other
• Not sure
• or if the business does not currently use artificial intelligence technologies.

Figure 3: In March 2025, an estimated 20.5% of businesses were using some form of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, with the Information & Communication sector having the highest share using AI technology (61.4%).

Estimated share of businesses currently using some form of artificial intelligence technology. Businesses not permanently stopped trading, with 10+ employees and a presence in Scotland. Wave 129.

Source: BICS Weighted Scotland Estimates - data to Wave 129 from the Scottish Government. For Figure 3 data see table ‘CurrentAIUsed’.

Large businesses (250 or more employees) were more likely to be using some form of AI technology than small to medium-sized businesses (10 to 249 employees). An estimated 30.0% of large businesses were using some form of AI, compared to 19.5% of small to medium-sized businesses.

In March 2025, the BICS asked businesses that reported using some form of AI technology, or that were not sure, what they used the AI technology for. Improving business operations was most common use for AI technology, an estimated 46.1% of businesses that used AI used it for that purpose.