In 2023, Spanish organizations substantially increased their usage of generative AI, a fact that is supported by Microsoft data. Spanish organizations have been rapidly adopting this technology, with the usage rate increasing at an impressive rate of 5.7 between the third and fourth quarters. This increase puts Spain in fourth place in Europe, trailing only behind Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom. On a global scale, Spain ranks ninth in the use of generative AI.
This significant increase in the application of AI is observed in the data on the use of Microsoft’s generative AI tools by global companies. However, it’s worth noting that Spain falls short in other related aspects. Based on LinkedIn data, the proportion of people with AI skills is lower in Spain compared to other countries, placing it in the fourteenth position in Europe. Moreover, in terms of the number of AI software developers, Spain ranks 15th in Europe as per GitHub data.
Despite these shortcomings, Alberto Granados, the president of Microsoft in Spain, sees this as a huge opportunity. He emphasizes the importance of training and reskilling and expresses his confidence that the massive investment being made by Microsoft in Spain, amounting to 1,950 million euros for AI infrastructure, will have a significant impact.
According to Granados, Spain has the resources necessary to improve these statistics. Speaking at a press meeting in Madrid as part of the Microsoft AI & Innovation Summit, Granados emphasized that Spanish companies have shown a “great reaction” in adopting AI technology, and he strongly believes that “We have the mechanisms to reverse that data,”.
A MAJORITY OF SPANISH COMPANIES ARE ADOPTING AI
Data from IDC reveal that 62% of large companies and public organizations in Spain currently use AI. Moreover, 25% of these entities plan to incorporate AI in their operations in the next 24 months. The primary goals these organizations aim to achieve through their AI investments are improving operational efficiency and cost savings, and ultimately, enhancing business agility.
However, the growing adoption of AI also brings concerns about security and ethics among CEOs. According to an IDC survey, 77% of organizations believe that trusting suppliers who pursue a responsible AI strategy is crucial for the successful launch of their AI projects. Nonetheless, only 36% of these organizations have a governance body in place to supervise the deployment of AI technology.
Consequently, the discussion at the event revolved around the development of responsible and safe AI. Over 3,000 Microsoft customers and partners in Spain registered for this event to get first-hand information about the company’s latest developments in Artificial Intelligence. The company’s worldwide president, Brad Smith, also participated in the event.
