Saxony Minister urges businesses to increase AI adoption

Saxony's Economic Minister, Dirk Panter, has urged businesses in the German state to increase their use of artificial intelligence to bridge skilled labor shortages and maintain competitiveness against global rivals like China and the USA. Panter stated that AI is “no longer an option, but a necessity.”

According to the “Betriebspanel Sachsen” survey conducted by the IAB-Institut among approximately 1,200 companies, 27% of businesses in the state currently utilize AI technologies for tasks such as quality assurance, accounting, information gathering, and administrative reporting. An additional 8% plan to implement AI.

Barriers to adoption include a perceived lack of application opportunities, concerns regarding data protection and security, legal hurdles, and a shortage of AI experts. However, data from the digital association Bitkom suggests that two-thirds of companies using AI have improved their competitive position through efficiency gains and cost advantages.