On 14 October 2026, the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) reported that AI adoption in EU strategic sectors increased from 7% in 2021 to 18% in 2025, more than doubling over four years. The growth has been driven largely by the increasing availability and affordability of general-purpose AI and large language models (LLMs). Download the full publication on EU AI adoption at this link.

AI uptake varies significantly across sectors. Media, cultural and creative industries, energy and electronic communications are leading adoption, with 38%, 34% and 30% of firms respectively using AI. In contrast, mobility, tourism and agri-food continue to lag behind, with AI mainly used for marketing, sales and other readily accessible applications.

The analysis found that, while AI adoption is growing, many organisations have yet to integrate AI into core business and production processes, where the greatest productivity gains are expected. Sectors such as energy, electronic communications and defence tend to combine AI adoption with organisational changes, leading to deeper integration and greater business value.

The study also highlights several barriers to wider adoption. The most commonly cited obstacles are skills shortages, particularly a lack of AI expertise, and regulatory uncertainty, including concerns around data protection and privacy. The findings suggest that sector-specific policies, skills development and organisational transformation will be essential to accelerate the effective use of AI across Europe’s strategic industries.