New Data Reveals Europe’s AI Leaders and Laggards: Ireland Tops EU Ranking
A new analysis of artificial intelligence adoption across Europe reveals a continent divided, with a clear split between high-adopting nations and those struggling to keep pace. The data, sourced from a recent Microsoft report and Eurostat, identifies Ireland, France, and Spain as the European Union’s frontrunners in everyday AI usage, while countries like Romania and Greece lag significantly behind.
This “AI divide” appears to be driven by factors including economic strength, digital infrastructure, and educational access, shaping how quickly societies are integrating tools like ChatGPT into their daily work and personal lives.
The Front-Runners: Who is Using AI the Most?
The data paints a clear picture of Europe’s AI pioneers. Leading the pack within the EU is Ireland, where 41.7% of the population reports regularly using AI. It is closely followed by France (40.9%) and Spain (39.7%).
Notably, some of the highest adoption rates in Europe are found outside the EU. Norway leads the entire region with a remarkable 45.3% of its population using AI regularly, with the United Kingdom also showing strong uptake at 36.4%. The report suggests that the rapid integration of AI in these countries is happening at a historic pace, even faster than the adoption of the internet or smartphones.
The Other Side of the Divide: Europe’s AI Laggards
In stark contrast, several European nations are seeing much slower adoption. Romania has the lowest reported usage in the study at just 15.3%, followed by Greece at 17.7%.
Analysts link this disparity to a persistent “digital divide.” Countries with weaker internet connectivity, less access to modern computing resources, and lower levels of digital literacy are finding it difficult to keep up with the AI revolution. This gap threatens to create a two-tier Europe, where citizens in some nations benefit from AI-driven productivity and innovation, while others are left behind.
Business Adoption: Large Companies Are All-In
The trend of rapid adoption is even more pronounced in the business world. According to Eurostat, 13.5% of EU companies with 10 or more employees were using AI technology in 2024—a significant 5.5 percentage point jump from the previous year.
The uptake is dominated by large enterprises, with 42% of companies employing 250 or more people now using AI. The most popular applications are text-based tools, including text mining for data analysis and natural language generation for automated writing and content creation. Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium are the standout leaders in business AI integration.
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Public Sentiment: Optimism Tempered by Anxiety
European workers have mixed feelings about the AI surge. On one hand, about 66% report that AI is already benefiting their jobs, indicating widespread optimism about its potential to assist and enhance work.
However, this optimism is shadowed by anxiety. Approximately one in five workers believes AI could have a negative impact, and many fear future job displacement. A significant concern is a lack of involvement; a global Microsoft survey found that only 30% of employees feel they are included in decisions about how AI is implemented in their workplaces.
The Bottom Line: A Continent at a Crossroads
The data confirms that AI is no longer a niche technology but a mainstream tool reshaping European society and the economy. However, its benefits are not being distributed evenly. As Europe charges ahead, the findings highlight an urgent need for targeted policies to bridge the digital divide, ensuring that all European nations and their citizens have the tools and skills to participate in the AI-driven future.
