This article was the Theme of the Week in the newsletter of calendar week 36 in 2025.

It optimizes sales processes, organizes workflows in mid-sized hotel businesses, and self-directly evaluates potential material combinations in the construction and chemical sectors. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a vision but a lived practice in many operations.

According to the DIHK Digitalization Survey 2025, 38% of companies already use AI, while another 32% plan to adopt it within the next three years. The potentials of cross-sectional technology are significant, and AI increasingly evolves as a decisive competitive factor.

Artificial Intelligence in Daily Business Applications

What does the application of AI in businesses look like in concrete terms? Examples range from automatic evaluation and prioritization of customer inquiries to automated search for new material combinations, e.g., to diversify supply chains or react to price fluctuations. Applications in businesses are diverse.

An overview is provided by the DIHK webinar series "breAIkfast”: Here, companies showcase specific use-cases of AI implementation and point out further potentials. Researchers and IT service providers contribute their perspectives as well as practitioners – from hoteliers to sales professionals. The goal is to raise awareness and spark ideas for commerce.

Favorable Conditions Encourage AI Use

The implementation of AI in production or processes is complex – especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that often lack expertise and necessary resources. It is further compounded by the need to adhere to extensive legal obligations: The AI Act in its German version spans over 140 pages, along with additional laws like the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the Data Act. This means additional bureaucratic effort for SMEs and ties up significant capacities.

The complexity and partly unclear interpretation of the regulations lead to legal uncertainties. According to the DIHK Digitalization Survey 2025, nearly one-third of businesses consider this a major hurdle for digitizing their processes.

It is, therefore, crucial to promptly designate a responsible authority for implementing the AI Act in Germany to guarantee practical and unified interpretations. For SMEs, real-life laboratories are essential, where they can test new applications safely and straightforwardly. Special focus should be placed on unbureaucratic access for a broader economy.