The use of artificial intelligence among European businesses is growing rapidly, but significant differences remain across Member States.
In 2025, 20% of EU enterprises with at least 10 employees reported using AI technologies, marking a strong increase compared to previous years. The share has risen from 13.5% in 2024 and from below 10% just a few years earlier, highlighting the accelerating pace of digital adoption.
However, adoption varies widely across countries. The highest shares were recorded in Denmark (42.0%), Finland (37.8%) and Sweden (35.0%), while the lowest levels were seen in Romania (5.2%), Poland (8.4%) and Bulgaria (8.5%).
The most common uses of AI include analysing written language, generating content such as text or images, and processing speech. Among these, text analysis is the most widely used application by businesses.
These trends show that AI is becoming increasingly integrated into everyday business operations, particularly in data-driven and communication-related processes.
For young entrepreneurs and SMEs, AI adoption represents both an opportunity and a challenge. While it can improve efficiency, reduce costs and create new business models, access to skills, investment and digital infrastructure remains uneven across the EU.
JEUNE considers that accelerating AI adoption is essential for strengthening competitiveness, but ensuring that SMEs across all Member States can access and effectively use these technologies remains a key priority.
Overall, the data highlights a rapidly evolving digital landscape, where artificial intelligence is becoming a central driver of innovation and business transformation in Europe.
