Frankfurt
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already part of the daily work of many companies in Germany, and according to surveys, the majority of employees find it useful. In a survey commissioned by the audit firm PwC, almost four in ten professionals (38%) said that they use so-called generative AI applications at work. On the corporate side, 45% are already using tools such as ChatGPT, DeepL or Microsoft Copilot.
Of the companies already using AI, 85% of the companies surveyed said these applications help them complete tasks faster. Additionally, 83% said they are more creative when creating content with AI. According to the survey, companies most frequently use the technology for text generation (43%) and translation (38%). Nearly a third (32%) use AI for research work, customer support, or email responses. And about one in four companies use AI tools to create reports or manage social media channels.
PwC Expert: Small Businesses Still Caution
Hendrik Reese, AI expert at PwC, talks about rapid development. The fact that almost all companies use these applications also means that “the other half has not yet exploited much potential for greater efficiency or digital business models.” So far, mid-sized companies have been cautious. “Here, AI solutions are often only implemented selectively,” adds Uwe Rittmann, head of family businesses and small and medium-sized businesses at PwC Germany. These companies are also generally interested in AI.
But there are concerns. Almost all respondents (46%) were concerned that AI could be used inappropriately. A total of 22% of professionals expressed concerns about being “left behind and obsolete” by AI. This fear was more prevalent among younger professionals aged 18-29 (27%), compared to just 17% of those aged 60-65.
Employees acknowledge knowledge gaps.
The survey also shows that while there is a strong desire to continue training on AI tools, there is still a lot of catching up to do. Only a quarter (28%) of those surveyed have already completed at least one training course on generative AI. About a third (33%) of respondents said they have very good or good knowledge on the topic. Nearly a third (32%) rated their knowledge as sufficient, while nearly one in four employees (24%) admitted to having limited knowledge in the survey, and 11% said they had no knowledge.
notification: This report is part of an automated service of the German Press Agency (dpa), which operates under strict journalistic regulations. The AZ Online editorial team does not edit or check it. Please send questions or comments to Feedback@az-muenchen.de.
