BCG report: Spain leads in AI adoption, but value gap remains
A new global study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), AI at Work 2025: Momentum Builds, But Gaps Remain, reveals that artificial intelligence (AI) has become part of everyday work life, with 72% of professionals worldwide using it regularly. However, the full value of AI is being captured by a smaller group of companies that have moved beyond simply deploying tools — they have redesigned their workflows and transformed how they operate.
Based on responses from over 10,600 workers across 11 countries, the study shows that frontline adoption of AI has stalled, with only 51% of these workers using it consistently. The Global South continues to lead in usage, particularly India (92%) and the Middle East (87%), though these regions also report the highest concern about AI-driven automation, with over 41% expressing worry globally.
Spain tops Europe in AI usage
Spain stands out as the European leader in workplace AI adoption, with 78% of professionals using it regularly — ahead of the UK and Italy (both at 68%). This marks a steep rise from 59% in 2021. Yet, only 36% of Spanish workers feel adequately trained, and just one in four frontline employees receives guidance from leadership on AI use, signaling a growing gap between adoption and value creation.
“Spain’s leadership in AI adoption is a great sign of our digital maturity, but we now need to go beyond tool deployment and embrace real transformation,” said Alfonso Abella (pictured), Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG. “That means reimagining end-to-end functions and aligning talent strategy with business vision.”
Three Key Levers for Accelerating AI Impact
- Training: Only 36% of employees feel well-prepared to use AI. Those who receive five or more hours of hands-on training — especially in-person — are significantly more likely to become regular users.
- Access to Tools: Over half (54%) of employees say they’d use AI tools even without approval, with Gen Z and millennials most likely to bypass restrictions. This shadow AI poses increasing security risks.
- Leadership Support: Just 25% of frontline workers say they get enough guidance from their managers. Stronger leadership involvement correlates directly with higher adoption, confidence, and team engagement.
From Implementation to Reinvention
The companies deriving the most benefit from AI are not just adopting tools — they are reinventing how they work. These organizations:
- Invest heavily in talent transformation, offering training, change management, and forward-looking workforce planning.
- Track AI’s value through measurable outcomes — such as time savings, higher-quality results, and stronger decision-making.
“Rolling out generative AI tools alone won’t spark transformation,” said Sylvain Duranton, Global Leader at BCG X and report coauthor. “Real impact comes when companies redesign work processes and align their AI strategy with business priorities.”
AI Agents: The Next Frontier
While 75% of professionals believe AI agents (smart digital assistants that can perform tasks autonomously) will be essential to future success, only 13% say these tools are already embedded in their workflows. Just one-third understand how they actually work. As familiarity grows, fear fades — and professionals increasingly see these agents as collaborators, not competitors.
To scale AI impact, the report outlines four must-haves for organizations:
- Invest meaningfully in AI training and leadership support.
- Measure productivity, quality, and employee satisfaction gains.
- Anticipate workforce shifts and upskill accordingly.
- Pilot AI agents in structured, low-risk environments to build confidence and assess impact.
“Organizations that restructure workflows and invest in people are already seeing greater returns,” said Vinciane Beauchene, Global Lead on Human x AI at BCG. “But this shift requires clear talent strategies and dedicated engines to drive adoption while managing risk.”
