Courage to the AI: Acccenter event brings a breath of fresh air for the economy!

Courage to the AI: Acccenter event brings a breath of fresh air for the economy!

On July 21, 2025, a remarkable summer festival took place in the Accenture Office in the Vienna Stock Exchange, which attracted more than 100 participants. Under the motto "confidence", those present discussed one of the most pressing topics of our time: how to deal with the economic standstill in Austria and the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to bring new impetus into business. Host Michael Zettel, Country Managing Director of Accenture Austria, pointed out the need for "courage" and openness to change the current challenges.

The current AI boom in Austria

A current report by Google Austria and the trade association shows that 42 percent of Austrians maintain a positive attitude towards artificial intelligence inside. In generation Z, which shows itself as a pioneer in the use and evaluation of AI, 66 percent are optimistic about the progress of this technology. With 50 percent, a significant number indicates that they have already had well -founded knowledge in the field of AI. This underlines the willingness to actively use AI services, especially in the area of shopping, where 67 percent would like support for prices.

In the domestic economy, 68 percent of the companies surveyed are already using AI. The main applications are diverse and range from the creation of texts (49 percent) to translations (41 percent) to targeted search queries (37 percent). This widespread use shows that artificial intelligence is not only regarded as a future technology, but also as a valuable tool that can bring significant efficiency gains and cost savings.

economic effects of the KI

The effects of AI on the global economy are enormous. According to a study by PWC, AI could contribute to 14 percent to the global gross national product (BSP) by 2030. This corresponds to an additional value of $ 15.7 trillion. The most important key areas for this economic growth are productivity increases through automation and process optimization as well as the development of new business models.

Nevertheless, companies also face challenges in implementing AI. Data security, ethical considerations and the need for suitable regulatory framework are just a few of the points that need to be mastered. Andreas Wagner, Managing Director of SAP Austria, therefore not only asked for more investments in digital education, but also continuous training for employees at the Accenture summer festival in order to promote their skills in the use of AI technologies.

• main results of the PWC study:
• productivity increases through automation
• Innovations through new products and services
• growth in new markets by Ki

The underestimated importance of changes and investments in AI is also proven by the positive experiences of companies: a third of the companies surveyed reports of efficiency gains, 22 percent of cost savings and 15 percent were able to increase their sales.

Overall, the discussion about the Accenture Summer Festival and the accompanying studies show that the path to the future of artificial intelligence is both opportunities and challenges that need to be tackled with courage and openness. The use of AI can not only boost the Austrian economy, but also contribute to global transformation.

Further information on the current trends and study results can be found in the reports of Leadersnet Direct] (https://wirtschaftdirekt.at/2025/06/12/google-studie-ki-boom-in-oesterreich/) and [Bitkom Akademie] (https://bitkom-akademie.de/news/die-wirtschafts- von-kuenstlich-ein-studie-von-pwc).