AI Drives €6.24M in Average Gains for European Firms, But Concerns Linger: EY Report
Brussels, Belgium - A new report from EY reveals that artificial intelligence is delivering tangible economic benefits too European businesses, with over half (56%) reporting positive financial impacts – an 11 percentage point jump from last year. The European AI Barometer 2025, based on a survey of over 4,900 employees across nine European nations, found that companies are realizing an average of €6.24 million in additional profits or cost savings through AI implementation.
The benefits are particularly pronounced in sectors like private equity (92%), advanced manufacturing (78%), sports (74%), and agriculture (73%). This suggests AI’s versatility and potential to disrupt a wide range of industries. The survey included 500 respondents from Austria, providing valuable regional insights.
Regional Disparities in AI Adoption & Impact
While the overall trend is positive, the report highlights notable variations across Europe. spain leads the way with 70% of companies experiencing positive AI effects, followed by Belgium (60%) and Germany (59%). Austria (47%) and Portugal (42%) lag behind, though Austria has seen a notable 13 percentage point increase in companies reporting cost reductions or increased profits compared to the previous year.
“The fact that more than half of companies already benefit economically from AI is a strong signal,” says Susanne Zach, AI & Data Lead partner at EY Austria. “Those who do not deal with AI will fall behind – both as a company and as an individual.”
Productivity gap: Managers See Bigger AI Boost than Employees
Interestingly, a disconnect exists between managerial perceptions and employee experiences regarding AI-driven productivity gains. While 43% of all respondents report increased productivity thanks to AI, this figure rises to 56% among managers, compared to just 35% for non-management employees. Furthermore, 57% of managers observe increased productivity in their teams due to AI, while only 32% of employees report their managers are more productive thanks to the technology. This suggests a potential need for better dialog and training to ensure all employees benefit from AI implementation.
Opportunities & Challenges: Balancing Innovation with Duty
The survey identifies increasing efficiency (30%),resource optimization (26%),and improved customer service (24%) as the primary opportunities presented by AI.Though, significant concerns remain. Data protection (30%), ethical considerations (27%), and potential job displacement (25%) are cited as the biggest challenges. Data protection concerns are particularly acute in Austria, with 33% of respondents expressing worry.
EU AI Act: A Double-Edged Sword?
The forthcoming EU AI Act, designed to standardize AI development and deployment, is generally viewed positively. Central governance guidelines are set to take effect August 2, 2025, establishing the AI Office and AI Board.However, EY warns that stricter European regulations could put the continent at a competitive disadvantage compared to the US and China, where regulatory hurdles are lower.
“A uniform legal framework creates trust and security,” Zach explains. “But compared to the USA and China…there is a risk that Europe will fall in global competition.” She urges companies to proactively build compliance structures to meet the new regulatory standards.
About the European AI Barometer 2025:
The European AI Barometer 2025 is a study conducted by EY, surveying over 4,900 employees across Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The report assesses
