European Union Prioritizes Artificial Intelligence Adoption
The European Commission is pushing an Apply AI Strategy to boost industrial use across all member states.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
Live Poll
Should your nation prioritize adopting existing artificial intelligence tools over developing new foundational models?
European policymakers are focusing on the integration of artificial intelligence into existing industries rather than building new foundational models. The European Commission launched an Apply AI Strategy to accelerate this shift and improve regional competitiveness.
Why it matters
By prioritizing application over model development, EU officials aim to secure technological independence. This approach shifts focus away from competing directly with the foundational model dominance seen in China and the United States.
The adoption rate of AI in EU businesses reached 20% in 2025, compared to 13.5% in 2024. Among large enterprises, usage reached 55%, while smaller businesses recorded 19% adoption, with Denmark leading at 42% and Romania trailing at 5.2%.
The players
European Commission
The executive branch of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and managing the day-to-day business of the EU.
The details
The Apply AI Strategy targets strategic industries to ensure that businesses across the bloc can effectively deploy existing tools. This policy move is designed to scale technical implementation across diverse economic landscapes, ranging from highly digitized member states to those with lower current adoption.
Timeline
In 2024, the artificial intelligence adoption rate across European Union businesses was 13.5 percent.
By 2025, the artificial intelligence adoption rate across European Union businesses grew to 20 percent.
The Tech Race
The European Commission's Apply AI Strategy marks a departure from the capital-intensive pursuit of foundational model development common among tech giants. This trajectory focuses on creating a competitive edge through widespread industrial integration rather than duplicating existing research efforts.
Businesses in the European Union may see increased access to and support for AI-driven software tools in the coming months. Employees and business owners should expect a faster transition toward automated workflows as the commission incentivizes industrial adoption.
The takeaway
Europe is betting that the real economic value of AI lies in its practical application rather than the R&D race for new models. Companies should investigate how these upcoming implementation subsidies or resources might modernize their specific operational sectors.
Further reading
For more on global trends, visit the Artificial Intelligence section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Portugal News.
Live Poll
Should your nation prioritize adopting existing artificial intelligence tools over developing new foundational models?
