Belgium outperforms EU average in business AI use
Large enterprises lead AI adoption in Belgium, while smaller firms lag behind, highlighting a widening technological gap within the business landscape.
Belgium ranks among Europe’s top five countries for business use of AI, with more than a third of companies now using at least one AI technology.
In 2025, 34.54% of Belgian companies reported using AI, up from 24.71% in 2024. The figure is well above the European average of 19.95%, according to the latest Belgian Digital Economy Overview.
Adoption varies strongly by company size. More than 76% of large enterprises already use AI technologies, compared with just over 28% of small businesses.
The most common business applications include text analysis, content production (written or spoken), machine learning, and workflow automation. Companies mainly use AI for administrative and management processes, accounting and finance, and marketing and sales.
AI use is also rising among individuals. In 2025, 33.53% of Belgians used generative AI tools for personal use, compared with the European average of 25.09%.
Digitalisation Minister Vanessa Matz said Belgium should build on the momentum with a coherent strategy that strengthens expertise, supports talent, improves access to European technological capabilities, and builds trust.
She also stressed that AI development should take place within a clear, protective, and inclusive framework that respects privacy, prevents bias, and avoids widening inequalities.
Why does it matter?
Belgium’s AI uptake shows that business adoption is no longer limited to experimentation, especially among large companies. The gap between large enterprises and small businesses also matters, because uneven adoption could widen productivity differences inside the economy. The policy challenge is to support broader AI use while building safeguards around privacy, bias, skills, and inclusion.
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