AI adoption among Austrian companies has increased, yet many firms still struggle to demonstrate the economic value of their AI initiatives, according to McKinsey’s report “State of AI in Austria: Update 2026.”
The study records an average AI maturity score rising from 30 to 36 on a 100-point scale. Despite the rise, seven out of ten companies reported they do not have a concrete method to measure the results of their AI deployments.
Sector differences
The report highlights clear sectoral variation: the technology and media sector leads with an average score of 49, financial institutions score 45, while manufacturing trails at 29.
Weaknesses in workforce development and talent management
The weakest area identified is workforce and training. Talent management scored an average of 2.7 on a five-point scale, and more than two-thirds of companies view this area as a systemic barrier.
Measuring economic impact remains a major obstacle
Quantifying economic outcomes continues to be a significant challenge: roughly half of surveyed firms lack a method to forecast the expected benefits of AI applications in advance, and 70% face difficulties measuring performance after deployment.
Methodology
McKinsey and the Austrian Federation of Industry’s AI working group surveyed 135 technology and digital leaders from 54 companies for the study.
Recommendations
The authors recommend linking AI projects to measurable business objectives and moving applications from pilot phases into sustained, operational use. Without such steps, increases in AI adoption may not translate into the anticipated economic returns.
(Based on MTI reporting)
