AI adoption speeds up, CEE lags behind

The continuous advancements in AI models and their increased availability have accelerated their adoption by firms, aiming to improve efficiency and automate routine tasks. The year 2024 has been transformative, with an average increase of 68% in the number of firms in the EU utilizing at least one form of AI. As of last year, 13% of firms in the EU have integrated AI into their processes. Leading this trend are the service-oriented economies of the Nordics and Benelux. Slovenia follows closely, with 21% of companies employing AI, marking an annual increase of 84%. Other CEE countries lag behind the EU average. Approximately 11% of firms in Czechia and Slovakia use AI, with annual increases of 91% and 53%, respectively. At the end of the spectrum are Hungary, Poland, and Romania, where much less than 10% of firms utilize AI. Despite a 100% increase in AI usage in Hungary and Romania, there remains significant potential for further growth in the coming years. It is important to note that the disparity in AI adoption is not solely due to reluctance or inability to embrace new technologies, as industrialized economies may benefit less from AI technologies compared to their service-oriented counterparts.