Europe has talent for AI, but lags behind: 56% of companies short of investment
The Accenture report photographs an Old Continent with great potential, but held back by a lack of strategic vision. In Italy, only 19% of companies have a mature data and artificial intelligence strategy
3' min read
3' min read
There is something paradoxical about Europe's technological destiny when it comes to artificial intelligence. It possesses the talent, has a robust industrial tradition, and is at the centre of the most advanced ethical reflections on artificial intelligence. Yet it struggles more than others to ground it. To make it bear fruit. In short, to put it into practice.
The latest confirmation comes from the study just published by Accenture: an analysis of 800 large European companies reveals that more than half (56%) have not yet implemented significant investments in Artificial Intelligence. The result? The technology gap (not only AI) is at the root of a productivity that today stands at 76% compared to their American counterparts. Thirty years ago, they were even.
It is not just a question of technology, but of vision and systemic will. "At a time of increasing geopolitical uncertainties, finding a solution to the productivity gap in Europe has never been more crucial. Artificial intelligence represents a unique opportunity to reinvent the European economy and strengthen its competitiveness,' says Mauro Macchi, ceo of Accenture Emea. But his is more a call to arms than a simple diagnosis: "Companies are making progress, but they need to focus on cloud, modernisation of data architectures and skills training to scale faster. A coordinated industry strategy is crucial to avoid dispersion'.
The numbers offer a stark insight. If all large European companies above EUR 1 billion in turnover were to adopt AI capabilities similar to those of more advanced sectors, they could generate up to EUR 200 billion in additional revenue each year. The potential, in short, is there. But it lies dormant.
Italy, as often happens, is a microcosm of European contradictions. On the one hand, acceleration is there and it can be seen. "Italian companies are showing a decisive acceleration in adopting artificial intelligence to strengthen their competitiveness. Almost half have already scaled at least one Gen AI project and many are achieving returns beyond expectations,' observes Teodoro Lio, CEO of Accenture Italia. But there is still a long way to go: 'Only 19% of companies today have a truly mature data and AI strategy: this tells us that the potential for growth is still enormous. The future of Italian competitiveness is in our hands'.
