BERLIN (Dow Jones)–Demand for artificial intelligence (AI) has risen sharply in Germany. According to the digital association Bitkom, spending on AI software, services and corresponding hardware is expected to increase by 32 percent to 6.3 billion euros this year. Last year, 4.8 billion euros were spent on AI. For 2024, Bitkom expects spending to increase by 30 percent to 8.2 billion euros, and in 2025 the 10 billion euro mark could even be exceeded. Bitkom bases its statements on data from the market research company IDC.
“The launch of ChatGPT a year ago was an initial spark for the use of AI. ChatGPT showed many people for the first time what AI can already achieve today,” said Bitkom President Ralf Wintergerst. “It has never been as easy and cost-effective as it is today for companies to use AI and gain initial experience. It is important to take advantage of this opportunity now.”
According to Bitkom, the largest share of AI spending this year is on AI software (4.1 billion euros), followed by AI-related services (1.3 billion euros) and hardware (0.9 billion euros).
Wintergerst called for a secure legal framework for providers and users of AI. However, in the planned AI Act, the European Union must ensure that, unlike the General Data Protection Regulation, the shot does not backfire. “Critical AI applications belong at the center of the AI Act and not the so-called foundation models as the basic technology,” said Wintergerst, referring to computer models in the field of AI.
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 29, 2023 06:20 ET (11:20 GMT)