Eurostat data shows 25% of Europeans now use generative AI

These Eurostat numbers confirm what many in the industry have sensed anecdotally: generative AI crossed into mainstream consumer and workplace use across Europe in 2025. A quarter of the population using tools like ChatGPT privately—and 15% using them at work—means that foundation models are no longer a niche technology; they are becoming a routine interface for knowledge work and everyday problem‑solving. That, in turn, creates massive real‑world feedback loops for model providers on what actually works, where hallucinations hurt, and which workflows are ripe for automation.([usine-digitale.fr](https://www.usine-digitale.fr/intelligence-artificielle/ia-generative-25-des-europeens-lutilisent-a-titre-personnel-15-au-travail.ZD4CYLUXPVEYDMMPVLXT7HJR2Y.html?utm_source=openai))

For the race to AGI, this scale of deployment matters as much as benchmark scores. Widespread usage drives revenue that can be reinvested into larger models and specialized reasoning systems, and it pushes European regulators to move from abstract AI principles to enforcement that reflects real behaviors. The variation across member states also hints at future competitive gaps: countries whose firms lag on adoption risk slower productivity growth as AI becomes infrastructure. At the same time, pervasive use raises the urgency of aligning models with EU values on privacy, labor and non‑discrimination, making Europe a key test bed for how powerful models can coexist with robust rights regimes.