In 2025, Spain unexpectedly took the lead in adopting generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the professional sphere, surpassing Germany and the eurozone average. Nearly 18% of Spaniards already use such technologies in their work. This marks a significant increase three years after the emergence of the first mainstream AI models, such as ChatGPT. Despite these achievements, the country still trails behind the leaders—Denmark and the Netherlands—where the proportion of AI users in the workplace exceeds 26%.
Interestingly, Spain also tops the list for the number of people who don’t use AI due to a lack of knowledge about the tools or how they work. More than half of respondents admitted they are unfamiliar with the capabilities of generative AI or don’t understand how to use it. This is the highest figure in the European Union, highlighting a significant gap between interest in technology and the level of digital literacy.
Work and AI
Spaniards are more likely than Germans to use generative AI for professional tasks. In Spain, 17.9% of workers use these tools, compared to just 15.8% in Germany. The eurozone average is even lower. Meanwhile, in Denmark and the Netherlands, the proportion of AI users at work reaches 27%, and in Estonia it’s almost 47%.
Overall, 37.9% of Spain’s residents have used generative AI at least once—for personal, educational, or work-related purposes. About 30% use it in everyday life, and 16.3% for studies. Many people combine different use cases: the same person may employ AI for work, education, and personal needs.
Education and Youth
Spain ranks fourth in Europe for the use of generative AI for educational purposes. Among students, 78% have used such technologies at least once, and 68% rely on them for completing academic assignments. This is one of the highest rates in the EU. In other words, the vast majority of students who have mastered AI use it for their studies rather than for entertainment.
At the same time, only 16.6% of all Spaniards use AI in formal education. This is lower than in Sweden, Croatia, and Malta, but higher than in most other EU countries. Young people adapt to new tools more quickly, but interest declines significantly with age.
The knowledge gap
The main reason Spaniards do not use generative AI is a lack of information and skills. More than 27% of respondents admitted they don’t know how to work with such tools. Another quarter said they had never even heard of these technologies. The problem is even more pronounced with age: among people over 45, the proportion who don’t know how to use AI exceeds 30%.
Only 35% of Spaniards who don’t use AI say it’s because they don’t need it. This is the lowest rate in the EU. In other countries, indifference to new technologies is more common, whereas in Spain, the main barrier is a lack of digital skills.
European comparison
Although Spain is ahead of Germany and the eurozone average, it is not yet among the leading countries in AI adoption. In the ranking of countries by overall use of generative AI, Spain is 14th, and 15th in professional use. Denmark, Estonia, and several other Northern European countries remain ahead.
Interestingly, among Spanish workers who have already mastered AI, 60.7% use it directly in their professional activities. In Germany, this figure is slightly lower at 56.6%. Additionally, a third of Spaniards use AI for both work and learning, nearly twice as many as their German counterparts.
The Future of Digital Skills
The data show that Spaniards see the benefits of generative AI but face a lack of knowledge and skills. Interest in new technologies remains high, especially among young people and students. However, large-scale integration of AI into the economy and education will require significant efforts to improve digital literacy across all age groups.