The development of artificial intelligence in the German economy

Published on: May 11, 2025 / update from: May 11, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein

The development of artificial intelligence in the German economy - picture: xpert.digital

'How German companies use artificial intelligence more and more

German companies and AI: From ignoring to active use

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the German economy has increased significantly in recent years. As the attached graphics and current studies by the Digitalverband Bitkom show, a clear trend towards more AI use and greater acceptance among German companies can be seen. In the meantime, every fifth company AI actively uses AI, the proportion of companies that completely ignore the topic is steadily decreasing.

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Current development trends of AI use

Current development trends of AI use-Image: Xpert.digital

The attached graphic illustrates a significant change in the German corporate landscape regarding AI. While only 9% of companies started in 2022, this proportion increased over 15% in 2023 to 20% in 2024. At the same time, the proportion of companies that plan or discuss AI increased from 25% in 2022 to 37% in 2024. The decline of those companies for which AI is not an issue is particularly striking - from 64% in 2022 to only 41% in 2024.

According to the representative Bitkom study, 57% of companies are now actively concerned with the topic of AI, while it was only 43% in the previous year. These figures show a clear change in mood in the German economy. It is also noteworthy that 78% of the companies surveyed are now mainly regarded as an opportunity, which is an increase in ten percentage points compared to the previous year (68%).

Investments in AI technologies

The willingness to invest of German companies in the AI area is also increasing. Every third company (37%) is already investing in AI technologies. The trend with regard to the medium -term plans becomes even clearer: 74% of companies intend to invest in AI in the coming years. These numbers underline the strategic importance that is attached to the topic, which is also shown by the fact that 73% of the companies see KI as the most important future technology.

Generative AI as a specific growth area

The still young area of the generative AI (such as chatt or similar systems) shows a more differentiated picture. Here only 9% of German companies are currently using corresponding technologies and another 18% are planning their use for the future. Even more specifically, only 3% of companies use generative AI centrally, while 6% are planning this for the current year.

Opinions on the relevance of generative AI diverge: While 48% of companies believe that companies without this technology have no future in the long term, 46% of the opinion that generative AI is spectacularly, but only bring limited use in the company context.

ACI application fields in companies

The areas of application of AI in German companies are diverse. 80% of companies that use AI use them as part of their products or services, while 43% use them to support internal business processes. In generative AI, specific areas of application dominate: 89% use in customer management, 40% in marketing and communication and 20% in research and development.

International positioning and origin speakers

An interesting aspect is the strong preference of German companies for domestic AI solutions. Of the 84% of companies that use or plan generative AI and value the country's country of origin, 86% of German providers prefer. In the other places, the United States follows 64%, the EU with 48%and Japan with 39%.

However, this preference is in contrast to the current market perception: only 1% of the respondents addresses Germany a leadership role in the AI area. Instead, the United States and China are viewed as dominant forces. This discrepancy between desire and reality is also reflected in the demand that politics should promote German AI providers more (71% approval).

Regulatory challenges

Another important aspect is the uncertainty regarding the regulatory framework. In particular, the EU's AI Act of the EU, which came into force in August 2024, raises questions about the future development and application of AI. 69% of companies need support in implementing EU-wide AI rules. These regulatory uncertainties could be an obstacle to the faster spread of AI technologies in Germany.

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Innovation driver KI: Germany between expectations and reality

The increasing spread of AI in the German economy shows a fundamental change that is imminent. According to Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst, there is great openness to AI in Germany, paired with high expectations in both the economy and among the population. AI will mix the cards again in many areas.

At the same time, Germany faces the challenge of strengthening its position in international competition. The discrepancy between the desire for German AI solutions and the perception of the actual market leaders (USA and China) clearly shows the need to catch up. Wintergerst therefore demands: “Politics, business and science must ensure that we achieve a global leadership role at AI”.

Innovation driver KI: Germany between expectations and reality

The development of AI in the German economy shows a clear upward trend. The proportion of companies that use or plan AI grows continuously, while the proportion of those who do not deal with the topic steadily decreases. A significant dynamic has been recognizable, especially in the past three years.

Despite this positive development, Germany remains behind the leading nations in an international comparison. In order to close this gap, further efforts are necessary on the part of the economy and politics. However, the great willingness to invest in AI technologies and the increasingly positive attitude towards AI form a solid basis for future development.

As Wintergerst puts aptly, it must be clear to Germany: We don't just want to play along, we want to win. In the coming years it will be shown whether Germany can meet this claim.

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