More European companies are using artificial intelligence (AI) and automated systems or are planning to do so in the future, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey.
According to the survey, 42% of the European small- and medium-sized enterprises and mid-capitalisation companies surveyed already use AI and algorithmic management (AM), mostly in a limited and experimental way. A further 21% plan to adopt these technologies in the future.
Among the businesses surveyed, AI and AM are most commonly used in customer service and client relations (47%), monitoring of performance and productivity (36%), and logistics, planning, and staff scheduling (30%).
The survey also found that 61% of European companies say AI helps them make decisions.
In addition, 75% of companies believe that AI and AM will improve job quality. Meanwhile, 90% say decisions are made by people, with only 2% reporting that decisions are fully automated.
AI’s growth drives mineral demand
The rapid growth of AI, in particular AI-focused data centres, is reshaping the metals investment landscape, as focus shifts more towards power generation, energy storage, and grid connections.
A recent report by Wood Mackenzie highlights how growing demand is reshaping the power investment landscape, as Mining.com.au previously reported.
Wood Mackenzie expects “a supercycle of infrastructure investment across the power sector, including renewables, gas-fired generation, energy storage, transmission, and new technologies”.
As AI continues to grow, critical mineral demand is expected to increase as well.
Copper is the backbone of AI infrastructure, accounting for more than 80% of its total modelled mass, largely due to demand from power transmission and distribution networks.
AI data centres alone are projected to consume between 512,000 and 550,000 tonnes of copper annually by 2030.
Meanwhile, gallium and germanium also act as essential high-performance microelectronics and optical components for AI-specific technologies. Demand for germanium and gallium is forecast to surge by 37% and 85%, respectively, by 2030.
Eurobarometer is a polling instrument used by the European Commission, the European Parliament, and other EU institutions and agencies to regularly track public opinion across Europe. It also monitors views on EU-related issues and broader political and social topics.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Main image: iStock
