More than a third of Belgian companies already use artificial intelligence (AI). This puts our country in the European top 5. And private individuals are also easily finding their way to AI tools. This is evident from the Belgian Digital Economy Overview 2026, which was published on Tuesday by the FPS Economy.
Source: Belga
In 2025, 34.54 percent of Belgian companies used at least one AI technology, compared to 24.71 percent in 2024. Belgium easily exceeds the European average, which is 19.95 percent, and according to the FPS Economy, it is now one of the European top 5 for AI use by companies.
The most commonly used applications concern text analysis, the production of written or spoken content, machine learning and the automation of workflows. AI is mainly used for the organization of administrative and management processes, accounting and finance, and marketing and sales.
However, AI use appears to differ greatly depending on the size of the companies. More than 76 percent of large companies already use these technologies, compared to more than 28 percent of small companies.
Among private individuals, 33.53 percent of Belgians used generative AI tools for private purposes last year. That is also a lot more than the European average of 25.09 percent.
Expertise
“Belgians are particularly digitally active,” says Minister of Digitalization Vanessa Matz (Les Engagés). “We must now further strengthen this dynamic with an ambitious and coherent strategy, so that Belgium is not only a country that uses AI, but also a country that understands AI, controls it and contributes to its further development. This requires strengthening the expertise on our territory, supporting talent, better access to European technological capabilities and the development of a trust framework.”
According to Matz, the development of artificial intelligence must take place “within a clear, protective and inclusive framework that guarantees respect for privacy, prevents bias and prevents the digital transition from further increasing inequalities”.
Furthermore, the Belgian Digital Economy Overview 2026 shows that e-commerce continues its rise in Belgium. Nearly eight in ten Belgians (78.53 percent) made online purchases in 2025. Physical goods remain the most purchased products online, followed by digital cultural services, subscriptions to video streaming services and event tickets.
However, there are significant differences between population groups: almost 90 percent of highly educated people make purchases online, compared to just over half of lower educated people. People between the ages of 55 and 74 also purchase less often via the internet.