The main reasons for slow AI adoption in Switzerland include lack of access to AI-related skills, limited data governance, and insufficient IT infrastructure. Additionally, many companies have not yet addressed AI implementation, particularly small and financially constrained ones. Furthermore, the adoption has been slow, with most companies not yet AI-ready.
AI usage in Swiss R&D shows a markedly higher adoption rate compared to manufacturing. In R&D, 22% of companies are in the pilot testing phase, twice as large as the 10% in manufacturing. About one-third of the companies plan to adopt AI applications at scale in R&D over the next three years, indicating a more rapid uptake in this area.
Swiss tech industries are currently utilizing AI mainly in pilot projects, with a focus on research and development, sales and marketing, and customer service and tech support1. Only a few companies have indicated scaled use of AI in manufacturing. Efficiency improvement is the most important driver for AI adoption in these industries.