AI adoption more than doubles in EU strategic sectors, JRC report shows

What happened

A Joint Research Centre analysis finds AI use in EU strategic sectors rose from 7% in 2021 to 18% in 2025, driven mainly by large language models. The report highlights sector‑specific barriers, especially lack of expertise and regulatory uncertainty around data protection and privacy. It recommends tailored policy measures to deepen AI integration into core processes.

Why it matters for trust and compliance

• Its status is published. It is enacted but may not be in force yet. Check the effective date before planning around it.
• The findings guide policymakers on addressing privacy and regulatory challenges to accelerate AI uptake across key EU industries.

Who is affected

Recommended actions

1. Check that privacy notices describe the practices this addresses.
2. Map the security requirements to existing controls and close gaps.
3. Inventory AI or automated decision systems in scope and their assessments.