Spain continues to lag in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on an international level, according to the “Decoding Global Talent 2024” report conducted by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in collaboration with InfoJobs.

Despite the growing interest and knowledge about these tools today, Spain falls behind other countries in the regular use of AI.

AI utilization in spain

The report reveals that only 26% of Spanish workers use AI on a weekly or monthly basis. This percentage is significantly lower compared to countries such as the United States (39%), Portugal (33%), and Germany (32%). Even within Europe, Spain lags behind nations like Poland (31%) and France (29%).

The disparity becomes even more pronounced when considering regular AI use: only 27% of Spaniards use these tools frequently, compared to the global average of 39%. Of this group, 10% use AI weekly and 17% monthly. In contrast, 61% of respondents do not use AI at all.

Segmentation by age and education level

The report highlights greater AI adoption among younger people and those with higher education levels. Among young people, 43% use AI, while among those with higher education, the figure reaches 40%. However, these percentages are still lower than the global averages of 49% and 45%, respectively.

AI uses in professional and personal spheres

In the professional sphere, Spaniards primarily use AI for writing tasks (40%), studying and learning (36%), and administrative tasks (34%). However, these percentages are slightly lower than the global averages. In the personal sphere, the most common uses are skill development and learning (44%), general knowledge (43%), and translation (41%).

Challenges for AI adoption

One of the main challenges for AI adoption in Spain is the difficulty in writing clear instructions, which affects 30% of respondents. Other obstacles include the slowness of tools (28%) and data unavailability (26%).

Impact of AI on employment

Regarding AI’s impact on employment, 25% of Spaniards believe it will not significantly affect the job market, while 44% think it will only affect specific tasks. 26% anticipate a major transformation due to AI, a percentage higher than the global average of 21%.

Willingness for reskilling

Despite lagging in AI adoption, there is a strong willingness among Spanish workers for reskilling. 61% are willing to undergo reskilling processes, placing Spain above the global average of 57%. Additionally, 50% of respondents believe it is necessary to improve learning programs to facilitate this transition.

Mónica Pérez, Director of Communication and Studies at InfoJobs, emphasizes the need to prioritize technological training in Spain.

“Despite global technological advances, Spain is lagging in the adoption and application of artificial intelligence compared to other countries. However, the willingness for reskilling among workers is above average. Therefore, technological training should be prioritized through education to harness the full potential of AI,” concludes Pérez.

The “Decoding Global Talent 2024” report highlights that, although there is growing interest and willingness to adapt to artificial intelligence, Spain still has a long way to go to catch up with other countries in adopting these technologies.

Companies and professionals face the challenge of competing in a BANI environment where AI has become essential.

Small and medium-sized enterprises have an opportunity window with AI. A report by IndesIA reveals that only 2% of SMEs use it to improve their businesses.