Generative AI expands to 67 percent of French firms as gains lag
A Banque de France survey of 7,000 businesses shows 67 percent of French firms with at least 20 employees used generative AI at the start of 2026. Only 31 percent of users report productivity gains so far, with tools primarily applied in administrative and support roles.
Administration precedes the shop floor
Generative tools have diffused faster than predictive systems, reaching 64 percent of small enterprises with 20 to 49 workers and 83 percent of large firms with 1,000 or more staff.
In contrast, predictive artificial intelligence is used by only 35 percent of enterprises due to higher technical requirements.
Most deployment remains confined to basic tasks: 85 percent of generative AI adopters rely on general-purpose text generators, while 74 percent apply the technology primarily in support functions like administration and marketing.
Only 14.2 percent deploy AI directly in core production processes.
Among non-users, 49 percent cite an absence of clear use cases as their primary barrier to adoption, while financial constraints affect just 9 percent.
Information sectors set the pace
Integration varies across sectors.
In information and communication, 91 percent of firms use generative AI and 55 percent embed it directly in production or research and development.
For the 2026-2029 period, 60 percent of surveyed firms anticipate positive productivity effects, while a net balance of 14 percent expect workforce reductions.
Furthermore, 33 percent plan higher investment and a net balance of 6 percent expect to raise selling prices rather than lower them.
Adoption without transformation
Surface-level adoption of chatbots masks an absence of deeper operational restructuring.
Rising software outlays risk pushing up corporate costs before delivering meaningful efficiency dividends.
Real productivity gains will remain out of reach until deployment shifts from office drafting to core production.