A recent nationwide survey conducted by the Athens University of Economics and EntersoftOne examines the level of necessity and readiness among medium-sized Greek enterprises (10-50 employees) to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in their core functions. The study categorizes these enterprises into four groups based on their utilization of AI tools: 28% do not use any AI tools, 33% utilize AI on a personal level by owners or executives without formal company adoption, 34% have incorporated AI into simple content production and communication tasks, while only 5% have advanced applications that support decision-making and business processes.

These findings indicate that most businesses are at an experimental stage regarding AI adoption, illustrating a hesitance toward publicly accepting AI use in professional services. The survey reflects a broader trend in Greece where businesses face challenges in balancing the need for technological advancement with their current readiness to implement such innovations. The hesitance may stem from a lack of familiarity with AI and its benefits, as well as concerns about the implications of integrating such technologies into established business practices.

The implications of these findings are significant for the future trajectory of Greek businesses, especially in a rapidly digitizing economy. As AI continues to evolve globally, Greek enterprises will need to address their readiness issues and consider investing in training and resources that facilitate the adoption of AI technologies. Otherwise, they risk falling behind in competitiveness, especially against firms that are further along in their AI integration journeys.