When asked whether artificial intelligence is already being used in the company, 36 percent of the respondents stated that this is already the case. Another 37 percent indicated that artificial intelligence is at least in the planning stages, while only 27 percent denied any planning. Further breakdown of the number of applications among those who affirmed the introduction of AI revealed that 82 percent have implemented at least 2 applications.

66% of the respondents from companies where AI has been introduced or is planned (fully) agree that AI helps to counteract skilled labor shortages. Significant potential is seen in increasing productivity and efficiency of processes (approximately 71% agreement). 54% of the respondents believe that the introduction of AI enhances job roles. Among these, 57% are of the opinion that AI helps employees focus on more interesting tasks. 53% see the potential for preserving employees' knowledge.

The respondents from the subgroup (AI introduced or planned; N=332) were asked to allocate the planned or implemented AI application to a functional area within their company. Given that manufacturing is the most represented area in the sample, it is not surprising that it also ranks highest in the allocation of planned or introduced AI applications, at 56 percent. The second most frequently mentioned area was Logistics & Warehousing, with 34 percent, followed by Assembly at 26 percent. Conversely, only a small 4 percent mentioned the area of Corporate Management.

Furthermore, respondents from the overall sample were asked for a general assessment of the AI potential for the specified business areas. Manufacturing was attributed the greatest potential, followed closely by logistics & warehousing, and shortly thereafter, assembly. Company management was seen to have the least potential in this regard.

Regarding the beneficial changes for companies that the introduction of artificial intelligence could bring, most respondents agreed on the reduction of personnel costs and the shortening of processing and lead times. There was some indecision, however, regarding whether AI can contribute to the enhancement of job roles or the improvement of decision-making ability.

When asked, "How concerning do you find the use of AI in general?" 40 percent of all respondents (N=459) answered with concerning or very concerning. Only 33 percent of the study participants consider the use of AI as (completely) unproblematic. The high proportion of the "neither/nor" response option illustrates the uncertainty in answering the question.

Leadership requires competencies for the successful implementation of artificial intelligence. They need expertise in technical, social, methodological, and self-competencies. In the context of the ifaa study, the 459 participants rated AI technical competencies as the most important for shaping the digital transformation process, followed by social and methodological competencies. According to the 459 participants, leadership self-competencies rank fourth.

Leaders play a crucial role in the introduction of artificial intelligence. 50% of the 459 participants attest to leaders playing a very important role in the successful implementation of AI. Overall, 91% of participants consider the role of leaders as very or somewhat important.

To successfully shape the entire digital transformation process, leaders need important personality traits. In the ifaa study, the 459 participants had the opportunity to select the most important personality traits in a multiple-choice format. Individual willingness to change was chosen by 131 out of 459 participants as the top-ranked trait. Furthermore, 81 out of 459 participants indicated that they see enthusiasm as second-ranked. On the other hand, 112 out of 459 participants ranked leaders' curiosity as seventh and last.

According to the assessment of the 332 respondents, the lack of AI expertise in companies is considered a significant obstacle (44 percent) to a very significant one (16 percent). This is followed by the factor of "employees' fears of AI." Here, 39 percent consider this a major obstacle, and 13 percent even consider it a very significant one. Other significant obstacles, according to the respondents, may include high costs and data protection requirements. However, more than 50 percent of respondents consider the lack of availability of good algorithms and data to be a minor or no obstacle.

66 percent of the 449 respondents estimate that the use of AI demonstrates how innovative companies are positioned, which in turn increases the attractiveness of the workplace for professionals. 45 percent believe that AI even increases employee motivation, and 58 percent believe that it increases learning opportunities. 53 percent of respondents believe that AI helps reduce the complexity of tasks.