Majority of German Companies Embrace AI Amid Growing Optimism and Challenges

In 2026, for the first time, a majority of German companies are actively using artificial intelligence (AI), with 57% implementing AI technologies—a sharp rise from 20% two years ago and 36% last year, according to a representative survey by the Digital Association Bitkom.

Despite this widespread adoption, many firms acknowledge they are barely scratching the surface of AI’s potential. Only 3% of AI users believe they are fully exploiting AI’s capabilities, while a majority of 59% feel they are not utilizing it effectively at all. Nevertheless, 91% of companies regard AI as the most important technology for the future, reflecting a strong shift in perception compared to previous years.

The benefits of AI integration are evident: 66% of companies using AI report improved competitive positioning and 48% have accelerated internal processes. Budget commitments towards AI have increased, with 45% investing more than the prior year. The technology is predominantly used in customer contact and marketing but increasingly extends into product development and internal workflows.

However, significant concerns persist. About 61% of companies believe those who do not adopt AI risk having no future, while 34% fear AI could threaten their company's existence. The new AI Act has also introduced uncertainty, with 66% of firms perceiving it as more disadvantageous than beneficial.

Training is becoming crucial; 70% of companies now offer AI-related skills development to their workforce to bridge the technical gap hindering adoption.

In support of businesses navigating this AI landscape, Salesforce has launched the "Trusted Enterprise AI Harness," an infrastructure designed for safe and controlled AI integration. This system aims to combine diverse business data and workflows for smarter decision-making, featuring AI agents tailored for long-term task support across sales, customer service, HR, and e-commerce. The full deployment is anticipated in 2027.

Dr. Ralf Wintergerst, President of Bitkom, highlighted that AI is no longer confined to pioneers but has become mainstream in the economy. He emphasized the need for policymakers to prioritize infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to support AI’s ongoing development.

As German companies advance their AI journeys, balancing optimism about opportunities with anxieties over risks, the future of AI in Germany’s business sector looks transformative yet complex.