EU survey: 42% of SMEs use AI, but cost and trust slow adoption

A European Commission Flash Eurobarometer found that 42% of EU SMEs and mid-caps already use AI or algorithmic management, with another 21% planning to adopt it. Top barriers are investment cost (50%), legal uncertainty (49%), distrust of AI in staff decisions (49%) and lack of expertise (48%).

• 42% of EU SMEs already use AI, another 21% plan to adopt it
• Customer service is the leading use case at 47%
• 50% cite high investment costs as the main barrier
• 90% say humans still make the final decisions