The Transatlantic AI Divide: Understanding Adoption Gaps and Their Economic Implications

Abstract: This article examines the emerging gap in artificial intelligence adoption between the United States and Europe, drawing on recent survey evidence from workers and firms across major economies. Analysis of over 55,000 worker responses and firm-level data from 32 countries reveals that US AI adoption substantially exceeds European rates, with 43% of US workers using AI compared to 32% in Europe as of early 2026. The adoption gap reflects multiple factors, including demographic composition, firm characteristics, and critically, differences in management practices and organizational support for AI use. Industries with higher AI adoption show faster productivity growth in both regions, though employment effects remain unclear. The findings suggest that without strategic intervention, diverging AI adoption patterns may perpetuate existing productivity differences between the US and Europe, echoing earlier gaps in information and communication technology diffusion.

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