A survey by state-backed investment bank Bpifrance finds that while 77% of French mid-sized companies now use generative AI, only 17% of those users report meaningful time savings. The data, drawn from 534 firm leaders, shows adoption running ahead of clear returns.
Regular users are more likely to see productivity gains-23% report benefits versus 12% among occasional users. Still, 78% of executives expect a positive long-term productivity impact, up 11 points from last year.
Despite the tech uptick, demand weakness remains the primary drag on growth, cited by 55% of firms. The 2026 cash-position outlook balance fell to -12, while the revenue outlook balance improved to +18, still well below its historical average.