AI Adoption in EU Enterprises: a Comprehensive Analysis and Modelling of Usage Patterns, Sectoral Differences and Acquisition Trends

This paper analyses recent data on AI technology use among EU enterprises, highlighting AI’s rapid advancement and its benefits in transport safety, manufacturing efficiency, sustainable energy, and decision-making. AI technologies – such as text mining, computer vision, speech recognition, natural language generation, machine learning, and deep learning – enable data-driven predictions, recommendations, and decisions with varying autonomy. AI systems can be software-based (e.g., virtual assistants) or device-embedded (e.g., autonomous robots, drones). Our findings reveal a significant increase in AI adoption rates between 2021 and 2023, driven by improvements in digital infrastructure, regulatory support, and sectoral advancements. However, barriers such as limited resources, skill shortages, and data security remain significant for SMEs. The study examines current AI adoption trends across EU countries and models key factors influencing AI adoption from 2021 to 2023 using panel data analysis.