Two-thirds of Germans already use generative AI. Yet growing dependence on the U.S. and China in this pivotal technology area is raising serious concerns among an increasing number of people – a finding from a new Bitkom study.

It’s only been a short time since OpenAI’s ChatGPT captivated the world at the end of 2022 and early 2023 – marking the moment generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) first entered mainstream awareness. Roughly three years later, according to a new Bitkom study, two-thirds (67 percent) of Germans aged 16 and older already use GenAI at least occasionally.

Demand for a German AI provider is strong

In summer 2024, the share of GenAI users stood at just 40 percent – significantly lower than today. Since then, concerns about Germany’s growing dependence on U.S. and Chinese AI providers have also risen markedly. Today, 68 percent of respondents express such concerns; and among the 1,005 people aged 16 and older surveyed, 60 percent say they want Germany to become explicitly less dependent on U.S. AI companies.

Bitkom President Dr. Ralf Wintergerst understands these concerns: “No new technology has ever spread as rapidly as artificial intelligence. AI has swept across Germany – and been widely embraced by people across all segments of society. That makes it all the more critical that we avoid falling into new forms of digital dependency. We must now swiftly establish the foundations for a sovereign German and European AI industry.”

Bitkom calls for updating the national AI strategy

Its association therefore proposes, among other measures, updating the AI strategy launched by Germany’s “traffic light” coalition government – and supplementing it with an AI application strategy featuring measurable targets. To this end, at least €10 billion from the federal special fund should be allocated over the next five years. Also critical are “massive” investments in high-performance national AI data centres and a German AI gigafactory, as well as support for AI talent development.

As Wintergerst puts it: “AI is not just about technology – it’s equally, if not more, about the people who develop and deploy it.” Two-thirds of Germans (67 percent, up from 63 percent in 2024) consider AI a key future technology; only 28 percent (down from 34 percent the previous year) view it as overhyped. Twenty percent see AI exclusively as an opportunity; 54 percent see it primarily as an opportunity. Eighteen percent regard it as a risk, and just 5 percent see it as an exclusive, major threat.

Administrative Tasks Top the AI Wish List

When it comes to applying AI, 82 to 78 percent of respondents want it deployed in public administration, cybersecurity, healthcare, transport and mobility. Next come environment and sustainability (74 percent), policing (71 percent), schools (60 percent) and online retail (58 percent). The justice system, banking and insurance sectors remain in the green zone at 56 and 51 percent respectively. Less popular AI applications include defence and politics (48 and 46 percent), sports and legal departments (41 and 40 percent), and arts and culture (36 percent).

Wintergerst sees this as a reflection of societal change in the Federal Republic: “AI can already handle a wide range of tasks quickly and efficiently – especially when large volumes of text and data are involved. Given Germany’s demographic shift, which will shrink the working-age population, we genuinely need AI everywhere: in public administration, business and society.”

Yet for a majority of people in Germany (62 percent), trust in providers is paramount. For nearly half of respondents (48 percent), the provider’s country of origin is also a decisive factor. Only then do the quality of AI-generated outputs (39 percent) and overall performance – including speed – (27 percent) follow. Cost plays the smallest role in provider selection, with just 19 percent citing it as important.

Source, cover image: Pixabay / Growtika

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