2 .Use of AI technology by Dutch companies
This chapter examines the use of AI technologies by Dutch companies with ten or more employees.
2.1 Use of AI technology
In 2024, 22.7 percent of companies with ten or more employees used one or more of the seven AI technologies listed above; an increase of nearly 9 percentage points compared to 2023. Between 2020 and 2023, the use of AI technology was relatively stable, with a small spike in 2022.
| Year | 7 technologies (Use of AI technology (%)) | 7 technologies (95% confidence interval) (Use of AI technology (%)) | 4 technologies (Use of AI technology (%)) | 4 technologies (95% confidence interval) (Use of AI technology (%)) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 9.9 | 9.3 - 10.6 | ||
| 2021 | 13.1 | 12.3 - 13.9 | 10.7 | 10 - 11.4 |
| 2022* | 15.8 | 14.9 - 16.7 | 13.3 | 12.6 - 14.1 |
| 2023* | 14 | 13.2 - 14.8 | 10.6 | 9.9 - 11.3 |
| 2024* | 22.7 | 21.7 - 23.8 | 12.9 | 12.2 - 13.6 |
| * provisional figures | ||||
The AI technologies most often used by companies in 2024 were text mining (13.5 percent) and natural language generation (12.3 percent). Compared to a year earlier, the share of companies using text mining was two and a half times greater. The use of natural language generation nearly tripled in 2024, compared with the year before. The use of speech recognition increased from 3.7 percent in 2023 to 6.5 percent in 2024.
| Jaar | Use of specific AI technologies, Machine learning (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Machine learning (95% confidence interval) (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specifiec AI technologies, Image recognition (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Afbeeldingherkenning (95% confidence interval) (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Robots autonomous vehicles (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Robots autonomous vehicles (95% confidence interval) (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Robots process automation (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Robots process automation (95% confidence interval) (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Speech recognition (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Speech recognition (95% confidence interval) (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Text mining (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Text mining (95% confidence interval) (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Natural language generation (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of specific AI technologies, Natural language generation (95% confidence interval) (Use of AI technology (%)) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5.6 | 5.2 - 6.2 | - | 1.6 | 1.4 - 1.9 | 4.2 | 3.8 - 4.6 | 3.1 | 2.7 - 3.5 | |||||
| 2021 | 5.8 | 5.3 - 6.3 | 3.7 | 3.3 - 4.1 | 2.1 | 1.8 - 2.4 | 6.3 | 5.8 - 6.9 | 3.1 | 2.7 - 3.5 | 3.9 | 3.5 - 4.4 | 2.2 | 1.9 - 2.5 |
| 2022* | 7.2 | 6.6 - 7.8 | 4.3 | 3.9 - 4.7 | 2.5 | 2.2 - 2.9 | 8.3 | 7.7 - 9 | 3.7 | 3.3 - 4.2 | 5.3 | 4.8 - 5.9 | 2.7 | 2.4 - 3.1 |
| 2023* | 5.6 | 5.1 - 6.1 | 3.7 | 3.3 - 4.1 | 2.2 | 2 - 2.6 | 5.6 | 5.1 - 6.1 | 3.7 | 3.3 - 4.2 | 5.3 | 4.8 - 5.8 | 4.2 | 3.8 - 4.7 |
| 2024* | 6.3 | 5.8 - 6.8 | 4.5 | 4.1 - 5 | 2 | 1.8 - 2.3 | 6 | 5.6 - 6.5 | 6.5 | 6 - 7 | 13.5 | 12.7 - 14.4 | 12.3 | 11.5 - 13.1 |
| * provisional figures | ||||||||||||||
Companies with a larger number of employees were more likely to use AI technology in 2024 than smaller companies. The use of AI technology was highest among companies with 500 or more employees (59.2 percent) and lowest among companies with ten to nineteen employees (17.8 percent). This pattern was also present in the years before, between 2021 and 2023 (not shown in figure).
| Grootteklasse | AI use (Use of AI technology (%)) | AI use, margin (Use of AI technology (%)) |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 employees | 17.8 | 16.3 - 19.5 |
| 20-49 employees | 22.2 | 20.4 - 24 |
| 50-99 employees | 28.1 | 25.8 - 30.5 |
| 100-249 employees | 34.8 | 33.2 - 36.5 |
| 250-499 employees | 46.2 | 43.1 - 49.4 |
| 500 or more employees | 59.2 | 55.9 - 62.4 |
| * provisional figures | ||
The Information and Communication industry saw the most frequent use of AI technology in 2024, at 58 percent. Just a year earlier, 37 percent of companies in this industry used AI technology. Companies in specialised business services and financial services also used AI technology relatively often in 2024 (39.8 and 37.4 percent, respectively). As in the ICT industry, the use of AI technology in these industries was lower (24.8 and 27.4 percent) in 2023 as well.
| Industrial sector | Use of AI (Use of AI technology (%)) | Use of AI, margin (Use of AI technology (%)) |
|---|---|---|
| C Manufacturing | 18 | 16.1 - 20.1 |
| D-E Energy, water and waste management | 22.6 | 17.2 - 29.2 |
| F Construction | 8.9 | 6.6 - 11.9 |
| G Trade | 23.2 | 20.9 - 25.5 |
| H Transportation and storage | 11 | 8.8 - 13.7 |
| I Food and accommodation services | 9 | 6.2 - 13 |
| J Information and communication | 58 | 53.9 - 62 |
| K Financial services | 37.4 | 30.2 - 45.2 |
| L Real estate activities | 28 | 19.6 - 38.2 |
| M Specialised business services | 39.8 | 36.8 - 42.9 |
| N Rental, leasing and other business support services | 22.6 | 19.9 - 25.5 |
| Q Health and social work | 18.4 | 15.3 - 22.1 |
| * provisional figures | ||
Eurostat examines the use of at least one of seven AI technologies by companies with ten or more employees in EU countries11). In 2024, there were five EU-27 countries (Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Finland, and Luxembourg) with a greater proportion of companies using AI technology. Denmark had the highest proportion of companies using AI technology (27.6 percent); the EU-27 average for companies' use of AI technology was 13.5 percent in 2024.
| Use of AI technology (%) (Use of AI technology (%)) | |
|---|---|
| Romania | 3.1 |
| Poland | 5.9 |
| Bulgaria | 6.5 |
| Hungary | 7.4 |
| Cyprus | 7.9 |
| Italy | 8.2 |
| Portugal | 8.6 |
| Lithuania | 8.8 |
| Latvia | 8.8 |
| Greece | 9.8 |
| France | 9.9 |
| Slovakia | 10.8 |
| Czechia | 11.3 |
| Spain | 11.3 |
| Croatia | 11.8 |
| EU-27 | 13.5 |
| Estonia | 13.9 |
| Ireland | 14.9 |
| Malta | 17.3 |
| Germany | 19.8 |
| Austria | 20.3 |
| Slovenia | 20.9 |
| Netherlands | 23.1 |
| Luxembourg | 23.7 |
| Finland | 24.4 |
| Belgium | 24.7 |
| Sweden | 25.1 |
| Denmark | 27.6 |
| Source: CBS, Eurostat | |
| * provisional figures | |
2.2 Revenue share of companies with AI technology
Companies that used AI technology accounted for more than half (51.1 percent) of the total turnover in 2024 by companies with ten or more employees in sectors C through N and Q; companies that did not use AI accounted for the remaining 48.9 percent of turnover. The revenue share of companies that used AI technology was greater among larger companies. For example, among companies with ten to nineteen employees, those that used AI technology accounted for 18.7 percent of turnover, compared with 79.5 percent for companies with 500 or more employees. This positive relationship between revenue share and company size can be partly explained by the fact that larger companies are more likely to use AI technology.
| Grootteklasse | Companies using AI (Share of revenue (%)) | Companies not using AI (Share of revenue (%)) |
|---|---|---|
| 10-19 employees | 18.7 | 81.3 |
| 20-49 employees | 21.6 | 78.4 |
| 50-99 employees | 27.8 | 72.2 |
| 100-249 employees | 43.7 | 56.3 |
| 250-499 employees | 60.5 | 39.5 |
| 500 employees and more | 79.5 | 20.5 |
| * provisional figures | ||
The revenue share by companies that used AI technology varied by industry in 2024. The revenue share was highest among companies in financial services (87.9 percent), information and communication (75.3 percent) and energy, water and waste management (74.3 percent), and lowest among accommodation and food services (25.3 percent).
| Bedrijfstak | Companies using AI (Share of revenue (%)) | Companies not using AI (Share of revenue (%)) |
|---|---|---|
| C Manufacturing | 49.2 | 50.8 |
| D-E Energy, water and waste management | 74.3 | 25.7 |
| F Construction | 36.7 | 63.3 |
| G Trade | 42.7 | 57.3 |
| H Transportation and storage | 39.9 | 60.1 |
| I Food and accommodation services | 25.3 | 74.7 |
| J Information and communication | 75.3 | 24.7 |
| K Financial services | 87.9 | 12.1 |
| L Renting, buying and selling of real estate | 52.7 | 47.3 |
| M Specialised business services | 64.6 | 35.4 |
| N Rental, leasing and other business support services | 46.9 | 53.1 |
| Q Human health and social work activities | 57.4 | 42.6 |
| * provisional figures | ||
2.3 Purpose of AI use
In 2024, companies that used AI technology most often did so for marketing and sales (36.4 percent) and administrative processes or management tasks (30.3 percent). The least common use of AI technology was for logistics purposes (6.5 percent). Some of the response categories are different in 2023 and 2024 than in the two previous years. For three of the four purposes consistently asked after throughout the 2021-2024 period (ICT security, marketing or sales, production processes, and logistics), there is a decrease in the proportion of firms mentioning these purposes during the 2021-2023 period. It cannot be ruled out that this decrease is (partly) related to the adjustment in response options.
* provisional figures
1)Not all purposes were included in every year
| Year | Purpose of using AI, ICT security (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, ICT security (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Marketing or sales (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Marketing or sales (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Production processes (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Production processes (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Logistics (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Logistics (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Administrative processes (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Administrative processes (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Management of business (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Management of business (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Human resource management (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Human resource management (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Administrative processes, management tasks (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Administrative processes, management tasks (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Boekhouding/ controle/ financieel beheer (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Accounting, financial administration (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Research & development, innovation (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Research & development, innovation (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 33.5 | 30.7 - 36.4 | 32.7 | 29.8 - 35.8 | 33.7 | 30.9 - 36.7 | 18.8 | 16.5 - 21.3 | 40.2 | 37.2 - 43.2 | 13 | 11 - 15.4 | 16.2 | 14 - 18.6 | ||||||
| 2022* | 40.0 | 37.3 - 42.8 | 34.5 | 31.8 - 37.2 | 32.6 | 30.1 - 35.2 | 20.9 | 18.6 - 23.3 | 47.3 | 44.4 - 50.2 | 16 | 14 - 18.2 | 16.9 | 14.9 - 19 | ||||||
| 2023* | 28.9 | 26.4 - 31.5 | 28.3 | 25.8 - 31.1 | 23.0 | 20.8 - 25.4 | 11.2 | 9.6 - 13.1 | 29.8 | 27.2 - 32.5 | 25.8 | 23.3 - 28.5 | 26.1 | 23.7 - 28.7 | ||||||
| 2024* | 21.0 | 19.3 - 22.8 | 36.4 | 34 - 38.7 | 19.6 | 18 - 21.3 | 6.5 | 5.4 - 7.7 | 30.3 | 28.3 - 32.5 | 22.9 | 20.9 - 24.9 | 25.6 | 23.7 - 27.6 |
Across all size classes in 2024, AI technology was used the least for logistics. Companies with fewer than a hundred employees deployed AI technology most often for marketing and sales (35.5-38.8 percent). For companies with a hundred or more employees, the deployment of AI technology most often had ICT security as a goal (30.1-44.6 percent).
AI technology was deployed for a variety of purposes across all industries in 2024, but the main purpose varied by industry. In renting, buying and selling of real estate, AI technology was used most often for marketing or sales (54.1 and 40.3 percent). Meanwhile, companies active in information and communication or financial services most often deployed AI technology for research & development or innovation (46.4 and 46.8 percent). Companies in transportation and storage or human health and social work primarily used AI technology was for administrative processes or management tasks (41.4 and 29.9 percent).
| Bedrijfstak | Purpose of using AI, ICT security (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, ICT security, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Marketing or sales (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Marketing or sales, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Production processes (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Production processes, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Logistics (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Logistics, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Administrative processes, management tasks (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Administrative processes, management tasks, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Accounting, financial administration (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Accounting, financial administration, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Research & development, innovation (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | Purpose of using AI, Research & development, innovation, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Manufacturing | 19.4 | 16 - 23.3 | 29.1 | 23.7 - 35.2 | 25.8 | 21.3 - 30.8 | 11.9 | 9.2 - 15.3 | 26.9 | 22.1 - 32.3 | 20.6 | 16.2 - 25.8 | 25.1 | 20.7 - 30.1 |
| D-E Energy, water and waste management | 32.1 | 21 - 45.8 | 15.6 | 8 - 28.4 | 24 | 14.7 - 36.8 | 7.8 | 2.7 - 20.3 | 32.6 | 20.8 - 47.2 | 16.6 | 8.9 - 28.7 | 16.3 | 8.7 - 28.5 |
| F Construction | 30.7 | 18.7 - 46 | 25.2 | 14.1 - 40.8 | 13.7 | 7.1 - 24.8 | 2.3 | 0.6 - 9 | 33.3 | 20.6 - 48.9 | 27.8 | 16.3 - 43.3 | 14.9 | 7.9 - 26.4 |
| G Trade | 18 | 14.3 - 22.4 | 54.1 | 48.6 - 59.5 | 14.7 | 11.5 - 18.7 | 7.5 | 5.4 - 10.2 | 25.6 | 21.1 - 30.8 | 19.6 | 15.6 - 24.3 | 18.1 | 14.2 - 22.9 |
| H Transportation and storage | 24.2 | 17.4 - 32.5 | 22.4 | 14.9 - 32.3 | 22.9 | 15.9 - 31.8 | 26.4 | 18.6 - 36.1 | 41.4 | 31 - 52.7 | 25.5 | 17.2 - 36 | 24.1 | 16.5 - 33.9 |
| I Food and accommodation services | 11.8 | 6 - 21.6 | 50.4 | 31.9 - 68.8 | 10.9 | 5.5 - 20.3 | 11.1 | 2.6 - 37.3 | 10.4 | 5.6 - 18.4 | 16.6 | 5.9 - 38.6 | 7.5 | 2.9 - 18.3 |
| J Information and communication | 30.5 | 25.9 - 35.6 | 40.3 | 35.1 - 45.6 | 29.4 | 24.8 - 34.5 | 4.7 | 3.1 - 7.2 | 37 | 32 - 42.3 | 25.5 | 21.2 - 30.4 | 46.4 | 41.2 - 51.8 |
| K Financial services | 29.4 | 20.7 - 39.9 | 35.6 | 25 - 47.9 | 29.6 | 20.1 - 41.2 | 4.7 | 1.6 - 13.1 | 34 | 24.4 - 45.1 | 18.7 | 11.5 - 28.8 | 46.8 | 35.3 - 58.6 |
| L Real estate activities | 22.5 | 11.8 - 38.6 | 40.3 | 22.6 - 61 | 18.6 | 8.5 - 36.1 | 0.6 | 0.1 - 4.7 | 24.7 | 13.2 - 41.3 | 30.7 | 15.2 - 52.3 | 15.5 | 6.6 - 32.3 |
| M Specialised business services | 19.9 | 16.4 - 23.9 | 25.4 | 21.5 - 29.8 | 22.9 | 19.3 - 26.9 | 3.8 | 2.5 - 5.8 | 35.7 | 31.2 - 40.5 | 30.5 | 26.2 - 35.3 | 30.7 | 26.5 - 35.1 |
| N Rental, leasing and other business support services | 14.7 | 11.1 - 19.2 | 39.3 | 33.1 - 45.8 | 12.3 | 9 - 16.6 | 2.9 | 1.4 - 6.2 | 28.4 | 22.8 - 34.8 | 22.4 | 17.4 - 28.5 | 14.4 | 10 - 20.2 |
| Q Health and social work | 19.1 | 13.5 - 26.4 | 12.3 | 6.4 - 22.3 | 9.5 | 6.1 - 14.4 | 3.8 | 1.1 - 11.6 | 29.9 | 21.8 - 39.6 | 11.9 | 7 - 19.3 | 20 | 13.6 - 28.4 |
| * provisional figures | ||||||||||||||
2.4 Method of obtaining AI technology
There are various ways to obtain AI technology for use within a company. Software can be developed entirely by in-house employees, outside vendors can be hired to develop or modify software, or a company can use commercial or open source software. Direct use of commercial software is the most common way companies obtained AI technology in 2024: more than half of the companies (55.6 percent) obtained AI technology this way.
| Jaar | How AI technology is obtained, Commercially available software adapted by company (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Commercially available software adapted by company (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Commercially available software used directly (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Commercially available software used directly (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, External suppliers hired to develop or adapt software (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, External suppliers hired to develop or adapt software (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Developed by own employees (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Developed by own employees (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Open source software tailored by own employees (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Open source software tailored by own employees (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 28.4 | 25.8 - 31.2 | 49.8 | 46.7 - 52.9 | 43.9 | 40.9 - 47.0 | 28.1 | 25.5 - 30.8 | 24.2 | 21.7 - 26.9 |
| 2022* | 30.0 | 27.5 - 32.5 | 53.2 | 50.4 - 56.1 | 46.6 | 43.7 - 49.4 | 29 | 26.6 - 31.5 | 23.5 | 21.2 - 25.9 |
| 2023* | 26.0 | 23.7 - 28.5 | 51.3 | 48.3 - 54.3 | 32.9 | 30.2 - 35.7 | 27.9 | 25.5 - 30.5 | 26.1 | 23.6 - 28.8 |
| 2024* | 25.2 | 23.2 - 27.2 | 55.6 | 53.2 - 58 | 27.6 | 25.6 - 29.6 | 19.5 | 17.8 - 21.3 | 24.1 | 22.2 - 26.1 |
| * provisional figures | ||||||||||
For companies of all size classes, direct use of commercial software was the most common method of obtaining AI technology. Compared to smaller companies, larger companies were more likely to hire outside vendors to develop or modify software.
| Size of company | How AI technology is obtained, Commercially available software adapted by company (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Commercially available software adapted by company, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Commercially available software used directly (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Commercially available software used directly, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, External suppliers hired to develop or adapt software (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, External suppliers hired to develop or adapt software, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Developed by own employees (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Developed by own employees, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Open source software tailored by own employees (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained, Open source software tailored by own employees, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-19 employees | 22.6 | 18.8 - 26.8 | 51.1 | 46.3 - 55.9 | 22.9 | 19.2 - 27 | 16.9 | 13.8 - 20.6 | 22.1 | 18.5 - 26.1 |
| 20-49 employees | 23.5 | 20.1 - 27.2 | 57.1 | 52.5 - 61.5 | 24.4 | 20.7 - 28.5 | 18.9 | 15.8 - 22.5 | 24.3 | 20.8 - 28.2 |
| 50-99 employees | 26.9 | 23 - 31.3 | 56.5 | 51.6 - 61.2 | 29 | 24.9 - 33.4 | 19.9 | 16.5 - 23.8 | 24.6 | 20.8 - 28.7 |
| 100-249 employees | 27.5 | 24.9 - 30.3 | 57.7 | 54.7 - 60.7 | 34.7 | 31.9 - 37.6 | 23.4 | 20.9 - 26.1 | 25.4 | 22.8 - 28.1 |
| 250-499 employees | 33.5 | 29.2 - 38 | 63.4 | 58.8 - 67.8 | 44.7 | 40.1 - 49.4 | 22.6 | 18.9 - 26.7 | 29.4 | 25.3 - 33.8 |
| 500 or more employees | 36.9 | 32.7 - 41.3 | 67.7 | 63.4 - 71.7 | 47.4 | 43 - 51.8 | 30 | 26 - 34.2 | 29.3 | 25.4 - 33.4 |
| * provisional figures | ||||||||||
Across all industries, AI technology was most often obtained from a commercial party. This software might then be modified by in-house employees, which happened most often in financial services. In all other industries, commercial software without further modification was used the most often.
| Bedrijfstak | How AI technology is obtained,Commercially available software adapted by company (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained,Commercially available software adapted by company, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained,Commercially available software used directly (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained,Commercially available software used directly, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained,External suppliers hired to develop or adapt software (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained,External suppliers hired to develop or adapt software, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained,Developed by own employees (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained,Developed by own employees, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained,Open source software tailored by own employees (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) | How AI technology is obtained,Open source software tailored by own employees, margin (Percentage of companies that use AI technology) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Manufacturing | 19.7 | 15.8 - 24.3 | 49.9 | 44.1 - 55.7 | 38 | 32.4 - 43.9 | 16.8 | 13.1 - 21.3 | 19.7 | 15.7 - 24.6 |
| D-E Energy, water and waste management | 27.6 | 17.1 - 41.3 | 62.3 | 48.3 - 74.6 | 31.3 | 20.3 - 44.9 | 19.9 | 10.7 - 34 | 18.6 | 9.6 - 33 |
| F Construction | 13.2 | 6.9 - 23.6 | 44.5 | 30.4 - 59.5 | 26.6 | 15.9 - 40.9 | 9.2 | 3.8 - 20.6 | 16.9 | 8.7 - 30.4 |
| G Trade | 23.1 | 18.9 - 27.9 | 55.7 | 50.2 - 61.1 | 28.4 | 23.9 - 33.5 | 16 | 12.5 - 20.3 | 21.5 | 17.3 - 26.3 |
| H Transportation and storage | 28.3 | 20 - 38.3 | 47.6 | 36.6 - 58.9 | 33.4 | 24.4 - 43.8 | 22 | 14.7 - 31.4 | 18.5 | 12.3 - 26.9 |
| I Food and accommodation services | 15.8 | 5.5 - 37.6 | 40.3 | 24 - 59 | 19.7 | 10.7 - 33.7 | 6.4 | 2.4 - 15.9 | 9 | 4 - 19 |
| J Information and communication | 43.4 | 38.2 - 48.8 | 61.5 | 56.2 - 66.5 | 21.2 | 17.2 - 25.9 | 41 | 35.9 - 46.3 | 45.3 | 40.1 - 50.6 |
| K Financial services | 53.3 | 41.5 - 64.8 | 49.3 | 37.7 - 60.9 | 38.6 | 28 - 50.5 | 48.7 | 37.2 - 60.4 | 40.3 | 29.5 - 52.2 |
| L Real estate activities | 17.3 | 8 - 33.6 | 63.6 | 43.1 - 80.2 | 29.5 | 16.2 - 47.5 | 6.6 | 1.9 - 20.2 | 14.6 | 6 - 31.3 |
| M Specialised business services | 26.5 | 22.6 - 30.8 | 61.9 | 57.1 - 66.4 | 25.7 | 21.8 - 30 | 17.7 | 14.6 - 21.2 | 25.7 | 21.9 - 29.9 |
| N Rental, leasing and other business support services | 18.5 | 14.2 - 23.8 | 53.3 | 46.5 - 59.9 | 29.9 | 24.4 - 36.1 | 12.5 | 8.6 - 17.7 | 19.3 | 14.4 - 25.3 |
| Q Health and social work | 10.9 | 5.9 - 19 | 53.4 | 43.4 - 63.2 | 25.5 | 18.1 - 34.6 | 9.9 | 5.1 - 18.4 | 8.4 | 4.5 - 15.2 |
| *provisional figures | ||||||||||
2.5 Reasons for not using AI Technology
For companies that considered using AI technology in 2024 but decided not to use it, ‘lack of experience’ was by far the most important motivation (74.6 percent). This was true for companies of all size classes and in all industries. Privacy also played a role in the considerations: more than half of companies with a hundred or more employees mentioned privacy as a reason for not using AI technology.
* provisional figures
1) Percentage of companies not using AI, but have considered using it
| Jaar | Reason for not using AI technology, Ethical reasons (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Ethical reasons (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Lack of experience (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Lack of experience (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Incompatibility (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Incompatibility (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Legal consequences (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Legal consequences (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Costs too high (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Costs too high (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Difficult to obtain (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Difficult to obtain (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Not useful (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Not useful (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Privacy (Percentage of companies1)) | Reason for not using AI technology, Privacy (95% confidence interval) (Percentage of companies1)) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 11 | 8.1 - 14.9 | 72.4 | 67.9 - 76.5 | 44.8 | 39.9 - 49.9 | 23.3 | 19.1 - 28.1 | 45.7 | 40.7 - 50.8 | 46.5 | 41.5 - 51.6 | 18.6 | 14.7 - 23.1 | 24.7 | 20.5 - 29.5 |
| 2022* | 9.5 | 6.9 - 13.1 | 64.8 | 59.6 - 69.6 | 48.9 | 43.6 - 54.2 | 23.7 | 19.4 - 28.6 | 42.5 | 37.4 - 47.8 | 43.9 | 38.7 - 49.2 | 16.7 | 13 - 21.1 | 24.5 | 20.1 - 29.5 |
| 2023* | 15.6 | 12.6 - 19.1 | 75.7 | 71.7 - 79.3 | 43.1 | 38.6 - 47.8 | 32.3 | 28.1 - 36.8 | 36.0 | 31.6 - 40.5 | 40.7 | 36.3 - 45.3 | 13.9 | 11.1 - 17.4 | 36.1 | 31.7 - 40.6 |
| 2024* | 20.5 | 17.5 - 23.9 | 74.6 | 71.3 - 77.7 | 34.8 | 31.1 - 38.6 | 37.4 | 33.8 - 41.2 | 22.8 | 19.4 - 26.5 | 37.0 | 33.4 - 40.8 | 11.4 | 9.1 - 14.1 | 44.0 | 40.3 - 47.8 |
| Bedrijfsgrootte | Reasons for not using AI, Ethical reasons (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Ethical reasons, margin (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Lack of experience (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Lack of experience, margin (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Incompatibility (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Incompatibility, margin (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Legal consequences (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Legal consequences, margin (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Costs too high (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Costs too high, margin (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Difficult to obtain (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Difficult to obtain, margin (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Not useful (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Not useful, margin (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Privacy (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) | Reasons for not using AI, Privacy, margin (% bedrijven die AI-technologie hebben overwogen) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-19 employees | 22.3 | 16 - 30.2 | 73.7 | 66.4 - 79.9 | 34 | 26.4 - 42.5 | 36.9 | 29.5 - 45.1 | 25.2 | 18 - 34 | 36.6 | 29 - 45 | 12.4 | 8 - 18.6 | 39.5 | 32 - 47.6 |
| 20-49 employees | 18.9 | 13.9 - 25.3 | 75.2 | 68.4 - 81 | 31.1 | 24.7 - 38.3 | 31.4 | 25 - 38.6 | 21.7 | 16.2 - 28.5 | 32.6 | 26.1 - 39.8 | 11.9 | 7.8 - 17.8 | 41.1 | 34.1 - 48.5 |
| 50-99 employees | 15 | 10.3 - 21.4 | 74.9 | 68.2 - 80.6 | 38.3 | 31.3 - 45.9 | 42.7 | 35.5 - 50.3 | 18 | 13 - 24.5 | 42.2 | 35 - 49.8 | 11.1 | 7.2 - 16.9 | 47.9 | 40.5 - 55.4 |
| 100-249 employees | 20.6 | 17.4 - 24.3 | 78.1 | 74.3 - 81.4 | 40.8 | 36.7 - 45 | 41.4 | 37.2 - 45.6 | 19.3 | 16.2 - 22.8 | 40.7 | 36.6 - 45 | 9.5 | 7.3 - 12.2 | 49.9 | 45.6 - 54.1 |
| 250-499 employees | 17.6 | 12.7 - 24 | 71.1 | 63.9 - 77.3 | 35.6 | 28.9 - 42.9 | 39.9 | 32.9 - 47.3 | 27.1 | 21.1 - 34.1 | 37.1 | 30.3 - 44.4 | 8 | 4.8 - 13.2 | 51.9 | 44.6 - 59.2 |
| 500 or more employees | 37.2 | 29.9 - 45 | 71.5 | 63.9 - 78.1 | 37.6 | 30.4 - 45.5 | 53 | 45.1 - 60.6 | 31.1 | 24.3 - 38.9 | 44.8 | 37.2 - 52.6 | 8.6 | 5.3 - 13.8 | 64 | 56.2 - 71.1 |
| * provisional figures | ||||||||||||||||
| Bedrijfstak | Reason for not using AI, Ethical (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Ethical, margin (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Lack of experience (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Lack of experience, margin (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Incompatibility (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Incompatibility, margin (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Legal consequences (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Legal consequences, margin (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Costs too high (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Costs too high, margin (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Difficult to obtain (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Difficult to obtain, margin (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Not useful (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Not useful, margin (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Privacy (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) | Reason for not using AI, Privacy, margin (Percentage of companies that have considered using AI) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C Manufacturing | 17.6 | 12.5 - 24.3 | 76.9 | 69.3 - 83.1 | 43.7 | 35.7 - 52 | 38.4 | 30.8 - 46.7 | 23 | 16.7 - 30.8 | 40.7 | 33.1 - 48.8 | 10.2 | 6.2 - 16.3 | 37.1 | 30 - 44.7 |
| D-E Energy, water and waste management | 21.2 | 8.2 - 44.7 | 80.8 | 59.5 - 92.4 | 50.9 | 29.9 - 71.5 | 28 | 12.8 - 50.9 | 8.5 | 2 - 30 | 44.9 | 25.2 - 66.3 | 6.9 | 1.6 - 25.5 | 34.4 | 17.3 - 56.7 |
| F Construction | 19.1 | 9 - 36.1 | 69.3 | 49 - 84.1 | 43.1 | 26.8 - 61.1 | 26.4 | 15.5 - 41.3 | 17.7 | 8.3 - 34 | 26.4 | 14.3 - 43.5 | 26.9 | 13 - 47.6 | 32.3 | 19.3 - 48.9 |
| G Trade | 17.1 | 11.6 - 24.6 | 78.6 | 70.6 - 84.9 | 36.3 | 28.6 - 44.8 | 32.8 | 25.4 - 41.3 | 19.2 | 13.4 - 26.7 | 38.8 | 30.8 - 47.5 | 11.6 | 7 - 18.7 | 39.6 | 31.5 - 48.2 |
| H Transportation and storage | 16.2 | 7.7 - 31 | 57.8 | 39.8 - 73.9 | 38.4 | 23.7 - 55.4 | 34.7 | 20.7 - 52 | 30.6 | 16.7 - 49.3 | 29.1 | 17.6 - 44.2 | 10.3 | 4.3 - 22.5 | 41.5 | 26.2 - 58.7 |
| I Food and accommodation services | 27.7 | 5.9 - 70.2 | 83.8 | 59.3 - 94.9 | 62.8 | 32.9 - 85.3 | 40.5 | 13.6 - 74.7 | 63.8 | 34.1 - 85.7 | 56.9 | 26.6 - 82.7 | 10.5 | 2.3 - 37 | 35.6 | 10.5 - 72.2 |
| J Information and communication | 22.7 | 14.5 - 33.6 | 60.1 | 48.7 - 70.5 | 30 | 21 - 40.9 | 36 | 26.3 - 47.1 | 13.5 | 7.8 - 22.4 | 39.7 | 29.4 - 51 | 12.3 | 6.2 - 23.1 | 50.7 | 39.6 - 61.7 |
| K Financial services | 31.7 | 18.1 - 49.4 | 61.5 | 45 - 75.7 | 26 | 14.1 - 43 | 47.8 | 32.2 - 63.8 | 18.7 | 8.7 - 35.7 | 36.2 | 22.4 - 52.7 | 5.8 | 1.3 - 22.8 | 62.8 | 46.2 - 76.8 |
| L Real estate activities | 8.6 | 1.5 - 36.7 | 76.7 | 42.9 - 93.5 | 25.9 | 9.6 - 53.5 | 28.4 | 11.2 - 55.4 | 14.9 | 3.5 - 46.2 | 27.7 | 10.5 - 55.6 | 0 | 0 - 0 | 54 | 27.9 - 78 |
| M Specialised business services | 19.4 | 13.5 - 27.1 | 76.2 | 68.5 - 82.5 | 19.5 | 14 - 26.5 | 37.4 | 29.7 - 45.8 | 14.1 | 9.4 - 20.6 | 34.4 | 27.1 - 42.5 | 9.1 | 5.2 - 15.4 | 51.4 | 43 - 59.8 |
| N Rental, leasing and other business support services | 15.9 | 10.3 - 23.8 | 70.2 | 60 - 78.8 | 42.7 | 33 - 53 | 38.5 | 29.4 - 48.5 | 25.7 | 17.5 - 36.1 | 38.3 | 29 - 48.4 | 16.5 | 9.2 - 27.7 | 39.9 | 30.7 - 49.8 |
| Q Health and social work | 33.6 | 23 - 46.2 | 81.6 | 73 - 87.9 | 28.6 | 18.7 - 41.1 | 51.9 | 39.8 - 63.8 | 37 | 25.5 - 50.2 | 33.2 | 22.8 - 45.5 | 6.9 | 3.5 - 13.3 | 54.3 | 41.8 - 66.3 |
| * provisional figures | ||||||||||||||||
Annex: methodological consideration
Averages and 95 percent confidence intervals were calculated using R’s 'Survey' package V4.2-1. The percentages are weighted to the population of Dutch companies with ten or more employees. Confidence intervals were calculated using 'svyciprop' for confidence intervals for proportions. The ‘logit’ method was used; this method fits a logistic regression model and calculates a Wald-type interval on the log-odds scale, which is then transformed to the probability scale.
There was a slight decrease in the use of AI technology in 2023 (15.8 percent in 2022 to 14 percent in 2023). Denmark and Norway (2023 vs. 2021; see here) also reported a drop in the use of AI technology. These observations seem somewhat contradictory to the rapid technological developments currently taking place in the AI field of. It is possible that this somewhat inconsistent picture is partly related to the fact that it can be difficult for a company, or more specifically the person filling out the questionnaire, to assess whether and where in the company specific AI technologies are being used; AI technology may be part of a larger software package or system without this being evident. The survey on ICT usage in enterprises is designed such that a new sample is drawn each year; businesses with a hundred or more employees are an integral part of the sample survey. A large proportion of companies (71.4-75.6 percent) responded in two (or more) consecutive years. An analysis of subsamples of companies that responded in contiguous years showed that more than a quarter of companies reported using AI technology one year, but stopped doing so the following year. This percentage of ‘stoppers’ was higher in 2023 (43.6 percent) than in 2022 (32.7 percent) and 2024 (28.4 percent) and likely explains (in part) the observed decline in AI use in 2023. With the available data, it is impossible to verify the extent to which noise from self-reporting explains the higher rate of quitters and the decrease in AI use in 2023.