The publication coincides with the European AI Innovation Month that brings policymakers, industry, public sector and research together to discuss and showcase how AI is being developed and applied across EU industry sectors.
How AI and AM are used by European businesses
Algorithmic management (AM) or automated systems refer to digital systems that help managers organise the workforce and/or support their decisions about tasks, schedules, performance or staffing. These systems can be powered by AI or not and include both tools that automate decision-making and tools that make recommendations, while the final decision is taken by people.
According to the survey
- 42% of the European small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap companies consulted already use AI and AM, mostly in a limited and experimental way
- 21% plan to do so in the future
In the businesses that were interviewed, artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic management (AM) are commonly used in
- customer service and client relations (47%)
- monitoring of performance and productivity (36%)
- logistics, planning and staff scheduling (30%)
Furthermore, a clear majority of these European companies (61%) say that the use of AI helps them to take decisions.
75% of surveyed companies believe that AI and AM will improve job quality. Most companies (90%) say that people take the decisions, while only 2% of decisions are fully automated.
Read the full report View the infographic
Obstacles to the use of AI
Almost half (49%) of companies do not trust artificial intelligence or automated systems for decisions related to staff matters.
In addition, key barriers to uptake are
- high investment costs (50%)
- legal uncertainty (49%)
- lack of expertise (48%)
Some of these obstacles are addressed by existing EU rules. They include the General Data Protection Regulation and the AI Act, which ensure safety, fundamental rights and human-centric AI, while supporting uptake, investment and innovation in AI across the EU.
The upcoming Quality Jobs Act will increase clarity for companies and better protect workers’ rights in relation to algorithmic management. In the second-phase consultation for the Act, EU social partners expressed their views on EU action needed in this field.
Background
Eurobarometer is the polling instrument used by the European Commission, the European Parliament and other EU institutions and agencies to monitor regularly the state of public opinion in Europe on issues related to the European Union as well as attitudes on subjects of political or social nature. It provides quality and relevant data for experts in public opinion, researchers, media and the public.
The Eurobarometer survey was carried out between March and April 2026 across all 27 EU countries. Around 12 826 phone interviews were conducted among heads of privately owned SMEs and mid-caps with 1 to 749 employees. In addition, 500 interviews took place in larger EU countries and 250 interviews in smaller EU countries.
In February 2025, the Commission published a survey on AI and the future of work. The findings showed that most Europeans believe that digital technologies, including AI, have a positive impact on their jobs, the economy, society, and on quality of life. 62% of Europeans view robots and AI positively at work and 70% believe it improves productivity. While a majority supports using robots and AI to make decisions at work, 84% of Europeans think that AI requires careful management to protect privacy and ensure transparency in the workplace.
The annual Digital Decade report tracks progress towards the 2030 targets, one of which is that at least 75% of EU businesses take-up AI, cloud or big data. Statistics on the use of AI by European enterprises are available from Eurostat.
Related links
Flash Eurobarometer on AI and algorithmic management in European SMEs and mid-caps
European AI Innovation Month | Shaping Europe’s digital future
