Depending on the cited research, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Poland ranges from 5.9% to 16%. The relatively low adoption rate may stem from a lack of awareness among entrepreneurs about how AI tools could be used and what benefits they might bring. Meanwhile, a pan-European study by EY shows that satisfaction with AI implementation among companies is increasing, reaching 70%. In Poland, AI investments could be boosted by financial support programs and employee training initiatives.
“Our small and medium-sized enterprises use new technologies far less frequently than their counterparts in the United States or Western Europe. EY research from this year shows that over half of Polish micro and small businesses do not even consider using tools such as artificial intelligence. In my opinion, this results from a low level of awareness about what AI can actually be used for,” says Jacek J. Wojciechowicz, member of the Polish Economic Society and President of AI4Smart, in an interview with Newseria.
Limited adoption across Europe
According to Eurostat data, in 2024 about 13.48% of EU enterprises used artificial intelligence technologies. The adoption rate is significantly lower among small (11.2%) and medium-sized companies (20.9%), compared to large enterprises (41.1%). AI use was highest in Denmark (27.58%), Sweden (25.09%), and Belgium (24.71%), and lowest in Romania (3.07%), Poland (5.9%), and Bulgaria (6.47%).
“For me, this is a matter of knowledge and education among Polish entrepreneurs. They don’t really know why they should use artificial intelligence. They’ll adopt new technologies only when they see a clear benefit — such as higher income or the elimination of repetitive work. If they don’t perceive tangible value, adoption will remain limited,” adds Wojciechowicz.
Why Polish SMEs hesitate to adopt AI
A report by the Polish Economic Institute titled “AI in Polish Enterprises” shows that 77% of Polish firms that don’t currently use AI do not plan to implement it until it becomes absolutely necessary. Meanwhile, 23% of non-users intend to adopt AI at some point — 4% within the next 12 months, and 19% without a specified timeline.
The main barrier to digitalization cited by companies is the high cost of digital solutions (18% among non-users, compared to 10% among users). Other concerns include lack of staff expertise and the need for employee training, both of which are linked to cost constraints — whether from hiring skilled professionals or funding internal training programs.
“If there were more grant programs — and pilot initiatives are slowly emerging — offering financial support for implementing AI tools, adoption would be much easier. It’s really just a matter of time. Large companies are already using AI increasingly and quite effectively,” says the AI4Smart president.
Progress and pilot programs
According to EY’s report “How Polish Companies Implement AI?”, the percentage of companies successfully completing AI deployments in Poland rose from 20% in 2023 to 25% in 2024. Moreover, the share of firms ready for further AI projects increased from 78% to 89%.
An example of public support is the pilot AI implementation program for SMEs under the Inno_LAB project, run by the Ministry of Development and Technology and the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP) for 2024–2029. The program aims to enhance knowledge, skills, and technological readiness within SMEs. It focuses on helping small and medium enterprises reduce uncertainty when experimenting with AI tools, encouraging investment and improving competitiveness.
“For many small businesses, AI agents could be extremely useful. Take a one-person company where the owner is overwhelmed with work — such a person cannot expand or hire new staff because they’re constantly busy. If they had an AI agent to handle calls or collect inquiries, they could eventually grow their business and hire more people,” explains Wojciechowicz.
AI agents and tailored solutions
AI agents are applications designed to interact autonomously within digital environments. They operate without direct human control and follow predefined rules and tasks. Examples include chatbots, virtual assistants, and recommendation systems.
“There are many large, medium, and even small companies offering ready-made AI products that can simply be plugged in and used. However, my philosophy is different — we should work directly with entrepreneurs to identify their problems and design solutions tailored to their needs. We can show them how AI has worked in other companies, how it saves time, or generates additional income. There’s a real need to build custom AI models and algorithms for specific businesses,” says the Polish Economic Society expert.
European and Polish perspectives
According to EY’s “European AI Barometer 2025”, 56% of European companies that implemented AI report positive financial returns. Overall satisfaction with AI effectiveness reached 70%, up by 7 percentage points year-over-year.
- 82% of managers and 63% of employees view AI positively,
- 43% of companies report increased productivity,
- However, three-quarters of respondents believe AI transformation will reduce the need for human workers, and
- 42% of employees fear job losses due to AI adoption.
A study by NASK and the International Labour Organization (ILO), “Generative Artificial Intelligence and the Polish Labor Market,” confirms that Poles also fear AI’s impact on employment. The most common concerns are lower wages (41.3%) and job cuts due to automation (29.3%). The analysis shows that 30.3% of all jobs in Poland (around 5.08 million) are partially exposed to automation or AI-related transformation, while 4.9% (about 817,500 people) work in roles where most tasks could be automated.
“I believe that many — not only small but also medium-sized enterprises — fear artificial intelligence. On one hand, some understand its potential and hold great hopes, but when it comes to actual implementation, fear emerges, especially among staff and management, that AI could lead to job reductions. It’s a serious issue — some positions will disappear, but new ones will be created,” notes Wojciechowicz.
Education, awareness, and regulation
The expert stresses that education is key in this area.
“If the state wants to support AI development in SMEs, it should also prepare an educational strategy — explaining both the risks and opportunities, while helping to create new skills for using available technologies,” says the AI4Smart president.
In addition to raising awareness and providing financial support for SME AI investments, Wojciechowicz emphasizes the need for a clear and transparent regulatory framework so that companies are not discouraged by new compliance requirements, such as AI usage reporting.
