Turkey AI adoption reaches 7.5% amid SME expertise gaps

According to data from the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK), the rate of enterprises in Turkey using at least one artificial intelligence technology has increased from 2.7% in 2021 to 7.5% in 2025. However, among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with 10 to 49 employees, the adoption rate remains at 6.6%, which is lower than the rate of one in five businesses with 10 or more employees in the European Union.

Research indicates that the primary barriers to AI adoption are a lack of expertise, cited by 74.2% of businesses, and high costs, cited by 67.4%. Kutlu Altun, General Manager of the Istanbul-based software company URİKEM, suggests that the solution lies in developing sector-specific software tailored to the daily workflows of businesses to increase efficiency. The 2026-2030 Turkey Artificial Intelligence Action Plan aims to support SME access to these technologies.