Artificial intelligence, especially its generative variety, has become the new flag of digitalization of the Spanish economy and the center of all the promises and fears that surround it due to its potential impact on the labor market. However, data from the latest “Survey on the use of ICT and electronic commerce in businesses”, prepared by the INE, reveal much more modest prospects than hoped. Indeed, even if 12.4% of companies with more than 10 employees use this technology, but only 2.16% has hired an expert in the field, which arouses voices that highlight a resounding “puncture” of this technology in Spain. Even if this interpretation admits some nuances.
The figures are even lower among companies with fewer than 10 employees: only 1.83% employ ICT experts and 0.19% employ artificial intelligence specialists, even if 7.83% use this technology, or 1. 5 points more than a year ago. THE huge disproportion between the two variablesthe use of AI and the demand for labor seem to conflict with the diagnosis of the lack of experts in these technologies which constitute a niche of employment opportunities. The 2.16% of companies that hired a specialist in this field contrasts with the 15.67% of companies that hire an expert in all ICT skills. But the truth is that in other digital technologies, the gap between usage and the demand for professions is much greater.
91.7% of companies implement cybersecurity measures, but only 6.63% integrate experts into their staff. 31.44% perform data analysis by their own employees, but only 8.98% employ qualified professionals specifically to develop and maintain these systems. For its part, 37.71% uuses programs in the cloud (“cloud computing”) but they only hire 4.98%. In total, “ICT specialists from other fields” represent 11.9% of hiring companies, although this “disaster box” category includes general-purpose technologies that do not necessarily require “technology” profiles, such as social networks. Thus, only 13.94% of companies have hired or attempted to hire ICT specialists.
These data relatively clarify the “failure” of artificial intelligence in Spanish companies. Its use increased by 2.83 percentage points last year, even though the hiring of professionals in this field increased by just 14 tenths. However, this slight progression contrasts with the decline in the rest of the areas considered essential for Spanish companies. stay at the forefront of digitalization. Which does not mean that its impact is negligible compared to what was expected.
UGT criticizes the “hype” around AI
A recent analysis by the UGT puts its finger on the problem: “Despite the media hype around artificial intelligence and the digitalization of the economy, new data published by the Survey confirm that new technologies do not penetrate our economic fabric“, notes the analysis, which highlights that “not 14% of Spanish companies with more than 10 employees have hired or attempted to hire an ICT specialist in 2024”. Seven out of ten Spanish companies have a weak or very weak digital profile , “almost four points more than the average of the Twenty-seven“, underlines the union.
In fact, companies reporting difficulty finding ICT workers reach just 4.3%. A year ago, they were 4.54%. What is surprising about this variation is that, even if the salary He appears listed in 70% of cases where he could not be hired, This percentage has fallen by 7 points since 2023 and it was placed second after the lack of experience of candidates, mentioned by 74% of companies having difficulty recruiting.
Concerning artificial intelligence, the UGT underlines that the percentage of experts in AI out of the total experts in new technologies has fallen below the threshold of 3%, “which would demonstrate the lesser importance given to it compared to d other technologies such as social networks, the cloud, etc. . This suggests that the CGU that companies “they acquire Artificial Intelligence products packaged by third parties and without the possibility of their own development“, as is the case for the rest of the technologies. The data confirms that 46.67% of companies using AI acquire software and 32.81% turn to external suppliers to develop or adapt it.
Differences by sector
Surprisingly, spending on artificial intelligence by companies with more than 10 employees decreased by 4.2% compared to 2023, to 308.2 million euros. In comparison, spending on cybersecurity is 12 times higher, at €3,393.4 million: it has increased by 37.8% since 2023. Although the data does not specify whether this is because Companies have slowed or refocused their investments in AI. or that the prices of third-party products have become cheaper.
There are several data that contextualize the so-called “AI explosion in Spain”: the first is that not all sectors behave in the same way, 44.97% of companies with more than 10 employees in the technology sector use a form of artificial intelligence. but only 19.43% have specialists on staff.
By the end of the contract, only 4.48% of construction companies are using AI, but only 0.23% have hired experts. However, the largest gap between AI use and job creation occurs in the hospitality sector: 11.95% of companies use it, but only 0.54% hire professionals.
Most of the digital technologies used by Spanish companies have reached a level of maturity that artificial intelligence has not yet reached. At least not when it comes to generative AI, which has generated “hype” and concern among economic and political agents. But also the interest of businesses.
Generative AI gains strength in Spain
It is difficult to guarantee that generative AI has had no effect in Spain when the products whose use has increased the most in Spanish companies are those related to large language model (LLM) algorithms, which are behind revolutionary products like ChatGPT. and surpasses in relevance even tools related to process automation and decision-making. Even if the truth is that these new algorithms have a “transversal” use that will potentially affect the rest of the imaginable uses of AI.
There are nevertheless precedents with older AI technologies, such as the algorithms of digital platforms, which give rise to a strong fear of legal consequences which add to the purely technological uncertainty. As a result, add the 12.4% of companies that use artificial intelligence Another 7.41% thought about it, but ultimately decided against it.
In eight out of ten cases, the first cause was “lack of relevant specialist knowledge“in the company. That is, the lack of professionals who know how to apply it and formulate a clear strategy for it. But 49.1% mention the “lack of clarity” on the legal consequences of this technology.which is a little more than the 48.8% of the economic costs involved.
The arrival of the new European Regulation on Artificial Intelligence aims to clarify the legal landscape, but not from a restrictive perspective. In the words of Carlos de la Torrepartner in the field of work Gomez Acebo & Pombothe spirit of the regulation is based on the balance between “risks and opportunities”.
One of the challenges he faces is precisely the “dimension of work”. Not only in cases where this technology makes jobs useless, but also in the management of work relationships “It is about avoiding reification and loss of individuality in work relationships so that people do not become a group of data”. But this idea of creating “responsible and sustainable AI” raises questions about its translation into the legal field. that affect the decision-making of many entrepreneurs about whether or not to bet on AI.
