Euro Area Firms Rapidly Adopt AI, But Deep Integration Remains Limited

A new study by the European Central Bank (ECB) found that firms in the euro area have rapidly expanded their use of artificial intelligence, with around 70% reporting some level of adoption.

The study, which drew on responses from about 6,000 firms across 12 euro area countries, showed that while AI uptake is widespread, only 7% of firms describe their use as significant, pointing to limited deep integration despite broad experimentation.

The research highlighted sharp differences between countries, with adoption rates exceeding 80% in the Netherlands, Finland, and Austria, but falling below 65% in Italy and Ireland. The study found that firm size, age, and sector are key determinants of adoption, with larger and younger firms leading the way.

The main driver of AI adoption across countries and sectors is improving business processes, followed by reducing personnel costs and supporting innovation. However, a lack of relevant skills was cited as the most frequent barrier to adoption among non-users or limited adopters.