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AI Driving Productivity Gains and Enhanced Innovation Capability

Expected Productivity Improvements
Most respondents anticipate that companies’ productivity will increase over the next five years due to the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI): 68% foresee an increase, and 27% expect significant growth. Only 5% of respondents believe there will be no change, and no one predicts a decline in productivity.
Regarding when the effects of productivity improvements will become apparent:

• 47% expect results within the next two years;
• 41% anticipate noticeable improvements within five years;
• 13% believe it may take up to ten years;
• No one expects it to take longer than ten years.

Enhanced Innovation Capability
In addition to productivity gains, AI’s ability to boost companies’ innovation capabilities is often emphasized. 86% of respondents believe AI can significantly enhance organizations’ innovation capacity. Profitability, which is closely tied to productivity gains and innovation capacity, is expected to increase by 73% of respondents, although only 9% predict significant growth.

AI’s Versatile Application Scenarios
The study reveals that AI opens up numerous application opportunities to address Switzerland’s future challenges:

1. Expansion of Research Excellence: With 87 votes, this indicates Switzerland could further strengthen its internationally renowned leadership in research.
2. Skills Shortages: Receiving 72 votes, AI cannot fully eliminate talent shortages but can significantly mitigate the negative impacts with its complementary technologies.
3. Pressure for Innovation and Growth: With 58 votes, AI could play a key role in helping companies enhance innovation and competitiveness.

Other areas that received significant attention include maintaining and improving the quality of Swiss education, addressing climate change, and enhancing the country’s attractiveness as a business hub.

Opportunities for SMEs
AI offers significant opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). By utilizing specialized and smaller AI models, SMEs can benefit from the technology without requiring extensive datasets, improving efficiency and fostering innovative solutions. However, the study highlights a substantial need for AI knowledge transfer among SMEs, which will be a key area of focus moving forward.

Expert Opinions

• Catrin Hinkel, CEO of Microsoft Switzerland, stated: “AI and generative AI are powerful technologies capable of solving some of today’s most pressing challenges. Advancing these technologies is crucial to accelerating Switzerland’s digital transformation and ensuring its competitiveness and innovative strength.”
• Dr. Alexander Ilic, Executive Director of the ETH AI Center, emphasized: “AI technologies should align with European values, focusing on data security, transparency, and fairness to make them more trustworthy in everyday life.”
• Dr. Stephan Sigrist, founder of the think tank W.I.R.E., remarked: “The economic potential of AI can only create long-term value when social and environmental considerations are systematically integrated. Switzerland has the opportunity to establish itself as a leading AI hub internationally if it leverages its traditional and future strengths.”

Study Design
This study combines a survey of Swiss companies and experts with interviews and case studies. Quantitative data was complemented by qualitative analysis to provide a comprehensive view of AI’s current and future impact. A total of 111 representatives from Swiss companies participated in the quantitative survey, and 20 expert interviews were conducted, covering various fields directly and indirectly related to AI.