The share of people using generative AI tools varies greatly across Europe.
Euronews Next takes a closer look at adoption rates and the factors behind these cross-country changes, reports Telegraph.
Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) has moved from emerging technology to everyday utility.
From personal use to work and education, millions of people across Europe now rely on AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Grok.
Generative AI tools allow users to ask a question or request, such as planning a three-day trip, and can create new content such as text, images, code, video, or other data based on information and patterns learned from existing examples.
In the European Union, around a third of people aged 16-74 used AI tools at least once in 2025, according to Eurostat.
However, the use of AI generated varies greatly across the continent. So which countries are most engaged with AI and why does adoption vary so widely across Europe?
Among 33 European countries, the use of next-generation AI tools ranges from 17 percent in Turkey to 56 percent in Norway. Within the EU, it ranges from 18 percent in Romania to 48 percent in Denmark.
The use of AI tools exceeds two in five people in 13 European countries
At least two in five people used Next-Generation AI tools in 13 countries in the three months leading up to the 2025 Eurostat survey. The countries include: Switzerland (47%), Estonia (47%), Malta (46%), Finland (46%), Ireland (45%), the Netherlands (45%), Cyprus (44%), Greece (44%), Luxembourg (43%), Belgium (42%) and Sweden (42%).
Eight places below a quarter
In addition to Turkey and Romania, the use of Generation AI tools fell below 25 percent in eight countries.
This means that less than one in four people have used such tools in these countries.
These countries are Serbia (19%), Italy (20%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (20%), North Macedonia (22%), Bulgaria (23%) and Poland (23%).
Among the EU's major economies, Italy (20%) and Germany (32%) are below the EU average of 33 percent, while Spain (38%) and France (37%) are slightly above this average.
Regional differences are strong
The adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Europe shows a clear north-south and west-east divide. Nordic and digitally advanced countries lead in usage. Western Europe performs well, but unevenly. Southern, Central-Eastern and Balkan countries lag behind.
Why does the use of artificial intelligence vary so much across Europe?
"First, [AI] adoption rates usually follow the overall digital foundation of a country. Countries that show higher adoption, such as Denmark and Switzerland, are already very advanced in digitalization," Colin van Noordt, a researcher at KU Leuven University in Belgium, told Euronews Next.
He noted that people there tend to be more digitally literate, use the internet more frequently, and tend to have a general affinity for technology. Without these foundations in place, it's unlikely that people will suddenly start using Next-Generation AI.
"This is reflected in the data: in countries with a lower rate of use, people are not using it because they did not know that generative AI existed or they do not know how to use it," he added.
Noordt also explained that it's one thing to have access to GenAI, but another thing to understand how it can help you in your daily life or work.
"Many people across Europe say they don't use generative AI simply because they don't know what to use it for. This shows that 'AI literacy' is a big factor," he said.
Van Noordt examined whether government action is a major driver, but the evidence is not entirely convincing. Many countries have strong policy documents but still show very low rates of use.
"This suggests that while a government can provide incentives, it is the underlying digital culture and practical skills of citizens that seem to have a greater effect," he said.
Personal use of AI exceeds use at work
On average in the EU, 25 percent of people used AI tools for personal reasons, while 15 percent used them for work. In every country covered, personal use is more common than work use, although the gap varies widely.
For example, in the Netherlands, usage is almost evenly split, with 28 percent using AI for personal reasons and 27 percent for work.
In contrast, Greece shows a much wider gap, at 41 percent for personal use versus 16 percent for work, a difference of 25 percentage points.
Adoption rates are much lower in the workplace, "perhaps because it is still unclear what it should be used for with a positive contribution," according to van Noordt.
AI usage is lowest in formal education
In the EU, only 9 percent of people used AI tools for formal education. This percentage is highest in Sweden and Switzerland, both at 21 percent, while Hungary records the lowest rate at just 1 percent. /Telegraph/
