The European Central Bank published analysis from the Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises (SAFE) for the fourth quarter of 2025, using ad hoc questions to map euro area firms’ artificial intelligence adoption and their AI investment plans through the next 12 months. The results show uneven adoption across firm types and a positive association between heavier AI use and firms’ expectations for turnover and investment. Across the sample, 38% of firms reported an advanced stage of AI adoption (moderate or significant use), while 33% were at an early stage (infrequent or experimental use). Advanced adoption was more common among large firms and listed or venture capital-backed companies (around 45%) and highest among young firms (56%), while the share reporting significant use was broadly similar across size and ownership categories, suggesting a core group of adopters across firm types. Among non-users, the main barriers were perceived lack of usefulness (30%), system incompatibility and skills shortages (around 20% each), with younger firms more likely to cite ethical concerns and distrust in AI outputs. Regression results (controlling for firm characteristics) linked significant AI use with a higher likelihood of expecting increased turnover and fixed-asset investment over the next three months (by 21% and 13%), and with higher expected wages and employment over the next 12 months (by 0.6 and 1.3 percentage points). Firms expected to allocate 9% of total investment to AI on average, ranging from 4% for non-users to 11% for moderate users and 20% for significant users; early-stage listed or venture capital-backed firms reported higher planned AI investment (17%) than early-stage privately owned firms (8%), while the pattern reversed among advanced adopters (21% vs 12%).
European Central Bank 2026-03-31
European Central Bank research finds 38% of euro area firms are advanced AI adopters and users plan higher AI investment
The European Central Bank published analysis from its Survey on the Access to Finance of Enterprises for the fourth quarter of 2025, examining euro area firms’ artificial intelligence adoption and investment plans. The study finds uneven but substantial AI uptake, with advanced users more likely to anticipate higher turnover, fixed-asset investment, wages and employment, and planning a larger share of total investment in AI than non-users and early-stage adopters.