Artificial intelligence for SMEs in Chile: which apps are available and how to get started (2026)

Only 13.5% of Chilean companies use artificial intelligence, according to the 2026 Latin American Artificial Intelligence Index (ILIA) by CENIA and ECLAC. And micro, small and medium-sized enterprises make up 98.5% of the country's companies, according to Chile's Undersecretariat for the Economy and Smaller Businesses. The gap is large, but the tools are already within reach of any small business.

Short answer: an SME in Chile can use seven types of artificial intelligence apps today: text assistants (such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude), document analysis, image and video generation, speech transcription, task automation, data analysis and image recognition. The ones companies use most are those that work with text.

13.5%

Chilean companies using AI

ILIA 2026 estimate

6.8%

Small companies in the region using AI

Latin America and the Caribbean

17%

Small European companies using AI

10 to 49 employees, 2025

text analysis

Most common use

11.75% of European companies

Source: CENIA and ECLAC, ILIA 2026; Eurostat, 2025

View the data as a table

Chilean companies using AI	13.5% | ILIA 2026 estimate
Small companies in the region using AI	6.8% | Latin America and the Caribbean
Small European companies using AI	17% | 10 to 49 employees, 2025
Most common use	text analysis | 11.75% of European companies

Which artificial intelligence apps can an SME in Chile use

Since there is no official Chilean measurement of which tools SMEs use, we use as a reference the Eurostat survey of European companies with 10 or more employees, which measures each type of artificial intelligence technology separately.

• All companies
• Small (10 to 49)

Text analysis11.75%9.87%

Image, video or audio generation9.55%8.1%

Text, speech or code generation8.76%6.96%

Speech recognition7.22%5.89%

Process automation5.35%4.13%

Data analysis with machine learning5.1%3.81%

Image recognition3.78%3%

Source: Eurostat, isoc_eb_ai

View the data as a table

	All companies	Small (10 to 49)
Text analysis	11.75%	9.87%
Image, video or audio generation	9.55%	8.1%
Text, speech or code generation	8.76%	6.96%
Speech recognition	7.22%	5.89%
Process automation	5.35%	4.13%
Data analysis with machine learning	5.1%	3.81%
Image recognition	3.78%	3%

1. Text and chat assistants

These are the best-known apps: they answer questions, draft emails, summarize documents and help with planning. ChatGPT (OpenAI), Gemini (Google) and Claude (Anthropic) are officially available in Chile, according to the country lists of OpenAI, Google and Anthropic, and they work in Spanish.

Uses for an SME: answering frequent customer questions, writing product descriptions, preparing quotes or summarizing meetings.

2. Text and document analysis

This is the most widespread use among European companies: 11.75% apply it. It's used to read and classify large volumes of text, such as emails, customer reviews, contracts or invoices.

Uses for an SME: sorting the inbox, spotting complaints in reviews or extracting data from documents.

3. Image, video and audio generation

9.55% of European companies use artificial intelligence to create images, videos or sound. It's one of the tools with the most potential for an SME's digital marketing, because it lowers the cost of producing content.

Uses for an SME: product photos, social media posts or short videos for campaigns.

4. Speech recognition

It turns speech into text. 7.22% of European companies use it.

Uses for an SME: transcribing meetings, dictating notes or logging customer service calls.

5. Process automation

Apps that carry out repetitive tasks or help make decisions within a workflow. 5.35% of European companies use them.

Uses for an SME: entering invoice data into spreadsheets, sending payment reminders or sorting orders.

6. Data analysis with machine learning

It detects patterns in business data to anticipate sales or spot problems. 5.1% of companies use it. To benefit from it, you first need organized data, as we explain in our 2026 data-driven study.

Uses for an SME: forecasting demand, identifying customers at risk of leaving or adjusting inventory.

7. Image recognition

It identifies objects or people in photos and videos. It's the least used on the list: 3.78%.

Uses for an SME: checking product quality, counting inventory from photos or reading scanned documents.

What companies use artificial intelligence for

Besides measuring which technology companies use, Eurostat asks what they use it for. Marketing and sales top the list:

Marketing or sales6.92%

Administration and management6.19%

Accounting and finance4.61%

Production4.14%

IT security3.94%

Research and innovation3.8%

Logistics1.21%

Source: Eurostat, isoc_eb_ai

View the data as a table

Marketing or sales	6.92%
Administration and management	6.19%
Accounting and finance	4.61%
Production	4.14%
IT security	3.94%
Research and innovation	3.8%
Logistics	1.21%

How much artificial intelligence is used in Chile and the region

Chile leads ILIA 2026 with 71.4 points out of 100, but adoption by companies remains low. In Latin America and the Caribbean, use falls with company size: 27.6% in large companies, 12.8% in medium-sized ones and 6.8% in small ones, according to the same index. We analyze this in detail in AI in business in numbers.

People are moving faster than companies: in Europe, 15.36% already use generative artificial intelligence for work, as we show in generative AI in numbers. Many SME workers are probably already using it on their own.

Public support programs for SMEs in Chile

Hazlo con IA at Sercotec

On August 26, 2026, Sercotec signed an agreement with CENIA and Futuro del Trabajo SOFOFA Capital Humano to add the Hazlo con IA ("Do it with AI") program, a training offer that is 100% online, free and requires no prior experience. Sercotec staff will take the courses, and the knowledge will reach entrepreneurs through the Business Development Centers and courses for beneficiary companies.

Talks at the Business Development Centers

On October 14, 2026, more than 2,000 entrepreneurs attended the talk "Introduction to artificial intelligence for your SME", held simultaneously at Sercotec's 62 Business Development Centers, according to Sercotec. The talk covered tools for customer service, digital marketing and sales. Sercotec also reported pilot projects in 15 centers, with early diagnostics for new businesses.

What holds companies back

In Europe, the main reason for not using artificial intelligence among companies that considered it is a lack of expertise, ahead of cost, as we saw in AI in business in numbers. Legal doubts and data protection come next. That's why free training programs are a good first step.

How to start using artificial intelligence in your SME

Step 1: choose a single task

For a week, write down your repetitive tasks: answering similar emails, putting together quotes, posting on social media. Choose one that is low-risk and easy to check.

Step 2: try a text assistant

It's the simplest entry point. ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude are available in Chile and in Spanish. Try them on the task you chose and compare the result with what you would do.

Step 3: set data rules

Decide what information can and can't be shared with these tools, such as customers' personal data or financial information. Review each app's privacy terms.

Step 4: measure the result

Compare how long the task took before and after. If you sell online, also measure the effect on your sales with your web analytics tool.

Step 5: get free training

Check what Sercotec and your nearest Business Development Center offer. Training is the main barrier, and free options exist today.