Bitkom: 57% of German firms now use AI. None say they use it fully

For the first time, a majority of German companies use artificial intelligence. In a survey published on 14 September 2026, the digital association Bitkom found that 57% of companies with 20 or more employees use AI, almost three times as many as two years ago (Bitkom). Another 38% are discussing it. For 4%, it is not a topic.

Early days, by their own account

Bitkom’s numbers show how shallow most use still is. No company said it fully exploits AI’s potential. Only 3% said they use it rather strongly, and 59% said they do not use its potential at all. Bitkom also reports that one company in three sees its own existence threatened by AI.

Bitkom Research surveyed 603 companies by telephone between calendar weeks 28 and 33 of 2026. The survey covers the whole economy, not only manufacturing.

Manufacturing on its own

For industry specifically, an ifo Institute survey in 2025 found that more than 40% of German manufacturing companies use AI, up from 17% in 2023 (US International Trade Administration).

On the floor

“Using AI” in these surveys can mean a chatbot in the office. The harder question for plants is how much of that use has reached the line. That gap is what BerlinFlo covers.