Germany: Research in AI is Top, AI in Business Rather Poor

This is the result of a representative survey of 605 companies with 20 or more employees in Germany commissioned by the digital association Bitkom. Nevertheless, according to the survey, the respondents see one in four German companies in Germany among the world’s leaders in artificial intelligence research.

“Germany has been at the forefront of AI research for years, if not decades, and has excellent scientists in the country. We need to make better use of these strengths for marketable AI solutions,” says Bitkom President Dr. Ralf Wintergerst. “It is not enough to have individual lighthouses and impressively strong AI startups in Germany. AI is a cross-sectional technology and needs a broad base throughout the economy. Policymakers also need to do more here. In particular, the very restrictive rules in Germany for the use of non-sensitive data should be adjusted. It makes little sense to pump billions into AI but then deprive it of the data without which AI simply cannot work.”

U.S. leads the world in AI

Currently, 41 percent of the companies see the USA as the world leader, 23 percent China. This is followed at a considerable distance by Japan with 7 percent and Israel and Taiwan with 4 percent each. If the companies are asked about their expectations for the future, the situation changes very little. The USA will continue to lead the field in 2030, according to 38 percent of the companies. Twenty-five percent mention China, 5 percent Japan, 3 percent each Taiwan and Israel, and just under one percent see Germany in the lead.

Specific possible uses of AI in companies and best-practice examples will also be the subject of Bitkom’s Big-Data.AI Summit on September 20 and 21, 2023 in Berlin. The focus will be on cross-industry strategies and industry-specific solutions, as well as technologies and trends and social challenges.