A representative survey by Bitkom, the digital industry association, found that 57% of German companies with at least 20 employees already use artificial intelligence (AI). The survey polled 603 firms and indicates that this share has nearly tripled compared with two years ago.
How companies use AI and its effects
Thirty-eight percent of companies plan or are considering adopting AI, while only 4% said AI use does not arise at all in their organization. Among companies using AI, 66% reported improved competitiveness and 48% observed faster internal processes.
Despite broad uptake, most firms remain in the early phase: none of the respondents said they fully exploit AI’s potential, and only 3% judged that they make substantial use of it. Beyond earlier customer service and marketing applications, AI is increasingly deployed in knowledge management, production, controlling and sales.
Confidence and uncertainty coexist
Bitkom highlights a simultaneous mix of strong confidence and significant uncertainty around AI. Ninety-one percent of surveyed companies see AI as the most important future technology, and 61% believe companies that do not use AI have no future. At the same time, 34% fear AI could threaten their survival; one third of AI-adopting firms said they started using AI mainly because they feared falling behind competitors.
Resistance to EU regulation and expected implementation costs
The survey also addressed the European Union’s AI regulation, the "AI Act": 37% of companies consider themselves affected and a further 34% are currently examining whether the regulation applies to them. Among companies that are affected or checking their status, 89% expect high or very high implementation costs. Overall, 66% of firms believe the AI Act will bring more disadvantages than advantages for German companies.
Employment outlook: moderate concerns
Concerns about jobs are more moderate: for the next two years, 45% of companies expect a slight reduction in headcount due to AI, and 12% expect a significant decrease. Notably, among companies already using AI only 9% anticipate significant layoffs, compared with 15% of non-users. Additionally, 18% of AI-using firms expect staff increases.
Conclusion
Bitkom’s survey shows AI has spread quickly across the German corporate sector and many firms treat it as essential for competitiveness. Yet most companies are still exploring the technology’s potential, and a large majority expects the EU’s AI Act to impose costly requirements — with many seeing the regulation as more burdensome than beneficial.
(Reporting based on Bitkom survey of 603 companies; MTI)
