European businesses rely increasingly on artificial intelligence (AI). That is what the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey showed, published today
The publication coincides with the European AI Innovation Month that brings together policymakers, industry, public sector, and research to discuss and showcase how AI is being developed and applied across EU industry sectors.
Algorithmic management (AM) or automated systems refer to digital systems that help managers organise the workforce and/or support their decisions about tasks, schedules, performance or staffing. These systems can be powered by AI or not, and include both tools that automate decision-making and tools that make recommendations, while the final decision is taken by people.
According to the survey, 42% of the European small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap companies consulted already use (AI and AM, most of them in a limited and experimental way. An additional 21% plan to do so in the future. Besides their use in customer service and client relations (47%), AI and AM are also being used by 36% of the interviewed enterprises for monitoring performance and productivity. Logistics, planning and staff scheduling (30%) are also common uses. Furthermore, a clear majority of these European companies (61%) say that the use of AI helps them to take decisions. 75% of surveyed companies believe that AI and AM will improve job quality. Most of them (90%) say that people take the decisions, while only 2% are fully automated.
High investment costs (50%), legal uncertainty (49%), and lack of expertise (48%) remain key barriers to wider uptake, according to the survey. Almost half (49%) of companies do not trust artificial intelligence or automated systems for decisions related to workforce or staff matters. Some of these obstacles are addressed by existing EU rules. They include the General Data Protection Regulation and the AI Act, which ensure safety, fundamental rights and human-centric AI, while supporting uptake, investment and innovation in AI across the EU.
The upcoming Quality Jobs Act will increase clarity for companies and better protect workers’ rights in relation to algorithmic management. In the second-stage consultation for the Quality Jobs Act, EU social partners expressed their views on EU action needed in this field.
“AI is changing how people work and how companies manage their staff. Three in four companies surveyed expect it to improve job quality. Turning that optimism into better working lives requires investment in people’s skills, protection of workers’ rights and human oversight of decisions that affect them. With the upcoming Quality Jobs Act, we want to give businesses clearer rules and workers confidence that AI will make their work safer, fairer and more rewarding”, said Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness.
“In Europe, AI caters to people and businesses. We have laid strong foundations shaping AI to European standards: the AI Act is about ensuring safe, human-centric and trustworthy AI. European companies can safely integrate Artificial intelligence to increase their productivity and the quality of their services. This will ultimately define who truly wins the AI race”, said Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy
Background
Eurobarometer is the polling instrument used by the European Commission, the European Parliament and other EU institutions and agencies to monitor regularly the state of public opinion in Europe on issues related to the European Union as well as attitudes on subjects of political or social nature. It provides quality and relevant data for experts in public opinion, researchers, media and the public.
In February 2025, a survey on Artificial Intelligence took place. According to this survey, most people in Europe believe that digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, have a positive impact on their jobs, the economy, society, and on quality of life. 62% of Europeans view robots and AI positively at work and 70% believe it improves productivity. While a majority supports using robots and AI to make decisions at work, 84% of Europeans think that AI requires careful management to protect privacy and ensure transparency in the workplace.
The annual Digital Decade report tracks progress towards the 2030 targets, one of which is that at least 75% of EU businesses take-up AI, cloud or big data. Statistics on the use of AI by European enterprises are available from Eurostat.
Above, Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness / image credited to the EC
