Spain is consolidating itself as one of the most advanced countries in the adoption of AI and in the strategic management of data in Europe. This is revealed in the report “Impact of AI and data, trust as key”, prepared by IDC at the request of SAS. According to this analysis, Spanish companies stand out for their technological maturity, their trust in algorithms and their ability to integrate AI into business processes in a responsible and ethical way.
Leadership that combines technological maturity and trust
The study places Spain above the international average in the advanced implementation of artificial intelligence projects. 48% of Spanish companies are already in mature phases of AI development, compared to a notably lower global average. Additionally, 53.4% of organizations have optimized or managed data infrastructures, which exceeds the 36.1% global average.
This advance not only reflects a technological commitment, but also a commitment to reliability. Spain is ahead of Europe in combining business trust and strong responsible AI practices. In fact, 11% of Spanish companies reach the ideal level of maturity and reliability, compared to 9% of the European average. This implies that the majority of organizations in the country are using AI not only as an automation tool, but as a lever of sustainable and ethical value.
“Spain is prepared to lead ethical and high-impact AI”
Guilherme Reis, Country Manager of SAS Spain and Portugal, highlights the country’s leadership position in this area. “The results of the report confirm that Spain is prepared to lead the development of ethical and high-impact artificial intelligence. We have a solid data base and technological maturity that places us ahead of many European countries, but we have a challenge ahead of us, to involve management teams more and guarantee the necessary investment so that AI not only transforms processes, but also generates sustainable value for the entire society,” he points out.
48% of Spanish companies are already in mature phases of AI development, compared to a notably lower global average
The report also points to two specific challenges that are slowing down the acceleration of AI in Spain. On the one hand, the lack of commitment of some management teams, whose reluctance to adopt new technologies is 6.9% higher than the global average. On the other hand, the pressure on costs, which exceed the world average by 3.7%. These factors limit project expansion even in organizations that already have advanced data infrastructures.
A demanding and ethics-oriented regulatory environment
The development of artificial intelligence in Spain occurs in a particularly strict regulatory context, in line with European regulations. Initiatives such as DORA or the future EU AI Law seek to ensure compliance, transparency and security of intelligent systems. According to the study, Spanish companies face a more rigorous control environment than the world average.
The report shows that national companies have more restrictions on sharing data with third parties (+11%), are more subject to demanding technical standards (+8%) and demonstrate a clear preference for local suppliers (+12%). In addition, 16.5% more than the average require technology partners to certify compliance with the organization’s internal policies.
Reis emphasizes that this regulatory framework does not represent a barrier, but rather a differentiating factor. “These results suggest that the AI landscape in Spain is conditioned by a regulatory and political environment that emphasizes control, compliance and regulation, and not necessarily because there are technical barriers,” he concludes.
Ethics, data and costs, the three priorities of the future
The report also identifies the areas in which Spanish companies consider it necessary to advance to strengthen confidence in artificial intelligence. Among them, the ethical commitment, the impartiality of the models and the reduction of biases stand out, values that in Spain are five points above the world average.
However, two major challenges remain. Firstly, the quality and consistency of the data, which represents an obstacle 10% greater than the global average. And, secondly, the high storage and processing costs, mentioned by 15% more Spanish companies.
