AI Is Transforming the German Economy Faster Than Expected

• 98 percent of companies now consider AI relevant to their business model and value creation (2024: 56 percent)
• 98 percent of companies now have an initial AI strategy in place (2024: 31 percent)
• 71 percent of companies report that their AI investments to date have met or exceeded their expectations

Berlin, June 9, 2026
 

Generative AI has become a reality in the German economy faster than many companies had anticipated just a year ago. 98 percent of companies now consider AI relevant to their business model and future value creation. This means that within two years, this share has risen from 56 percent (2024) to 91 percent (2025) and now stands at nearly universal acceptance. This is shown by the latest study, “Generative AI in the German Economy,” by KPMG in Germany, for which 480 decision-makers from various industries were surveyed.

Companies have reacted quickly to this development. Within two years, the proportion of companies with an AI strategy has risen from 31 percent to 98 percent. Many companies are now in the process of implementation and building robust structures. However, gaps remain: only in 39 percent of companies are the strategies actively steered by top management. 

Its relevance continues to grow. 78 percent of companies now view the impact of AI on their industry as significant or very significant; in 2025, this figure stood at just 47 percent. At the same time, 65 percent of companies see their expectations regarding the positive effects of AI as largely confirmed. 

AI investments to date are viewed predominantly positively in 2026: 71 percent of companies state that their expectations were met or exceeded. Only 5 percent feel their expectations were not met. The benefits are particularly evident in day-to-day operations. 65 percent measure the success of AI based on productivity  and efficiency gains, while 48 percent measure it based on revenue  and growth contributions. 

At the same time, the shift in investment logic is striking. While a large majority still planned to increase AI investments in 2025, budgeting in 2026 remains significantly more controlled: 67 percent intend to invest less than 10 percent of their total investment budget in AI over the next twelve months, while 30 percent plan to allocate between 10 and 25 percent of their budget.

A clear step toward maturity is also evident in the area of enablement. 84 percent of companies now rate their employees as generally well or very well prepared for AI use. At the same time, many organizations are professionalizing their training and qualification offerings: 51 percent rely on structured, company-wide AI training programs, while another 30 percent rely on role- or function-specific qualification formats.

The responsible use of AI is developing similarly. While Trusted AI is already in place in many companies, it is not yet comprehensively and holistically embedded. 53 percent have established corresponding approaches, but without consistent strategic oversight. In practice, companies primarily rely on concrete measures: 54 percent on the continuous monitoring and control of AI systems, 49 percent on the integration of external expertise, and 37 percent on clearly defined responsibilities and governance structures.