Eurostat: 20% of EU companies now use AI, but adoption pace remains slow

Eurostat recorded significant growth in AI implementation in European business: from 13.5% to 20% in a year. This marks six and a half percentage points of progress, but falls short of what's needed. Europe substantially lags the USA and Asia in the pace of digital transformation and innovation. Key barriers include: acute shortage of IT specialists, high investment costs, strict EU AI Act regulation, and cultural conservatism in traditional industries.