The number — In one year, AI adoption by French small firms doubled, yet it ranges from 41% in tech to 9% in farming

In twelve months, the share of French small and mid-sized firms using at least one AI solution rose from 13% to 26%. But the national average hides what matters: from one sector to the next, usage varies four-fold, from 9% in agriculture to 41% in the digital sector. Comparing yourself to “the country” is reassuring; comparing yourself to your own sector is a wake-up call. When adoption doubles every year, staying average today means falling behind tomorrow. Anchor your AI plan to a dated, quantified sector benchmark rather than the national average, and check every quarter the gap between you and the most advanced firms in your sector.

Source: Direction générale des Entreprises, “France Num 2025 Barometer (6th edition),” 16 September 2025 (11,021 firms surveyed, including 7,878 micro-firms).