German companies plan significant investments in AI

Overall, companies expect a number of positive effects from the use of generative AI. Above all, respondents expect an increase in turnover (67 per cent), a higher degree of automation (67 per cent) and lower costs due to greater efficiency (65 per cent). On the other hand, the survey participants also see negative effects. In each case, 37 per cent of them cite job losses, a lack of employee acceptance and problems with data protection.

Companies also see challenges in employee training and in the areas of governance and regulation. Although 55 per cent of respondents believe ‘strongly or very strongly’ that employees will have to adapt their working methods to use generative AI effectively, only 38 per cent of them believe they are ‘well or very well’ prepared to train their employees in the use of generative AI. Only 8 per cent of companies have a complete governance model including a committee for managing AI. In addition, 63 per cent of companies do not consider themselves well prepared for the effects of the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act.