Companies in Austria see themselves being slowed down by AI laws

40 percent see the lack of clarity about legal consequences as a challenge. Around the half has concerns about data breaches. This emerges from a current industry survey by the Federal Information and Consulting Division of the Chamber of Commerce. “We have no chance at all of implementing innovative things because there are a lot of legal uncertainties,” says federal division chairman Markus Roth to the COURIER. The division represents around 150,000 companies from, among other areas IT, Telecom, advice, advertising, but also Disposal and Financial Services.

Competencies unclear

In Austria there is one set up in the regulatory authority RTR Service pointwhich advises companies on EU AI regulation. However, many companies miss binding legal statements, also because many competencies have not yet been conclusively clarified. The WKO wants one One stop shop solution. “We need an authority that has general responsibility,” says the division’s managing director Philipp Graf.

Small companies in particular would find it difficult. Because many people lack the capital base to be able to bear legal consequences. This primarily inhibits the development of new services that use AI. “It would be important for companies to have a contact person who can say authoritatively that what they are planning to do is okay,” says Graf: “Many people don’t dare to talk about it because it’s legal for them too uncertain is.”

Digital sovereignty is becoming increasingly important

The topic of digital sovereignty has also become more important for companies. The increasingly volatile geopolitical situation and concerns that services could suddenly be cut have contributed to this. The fact that the US government under Donald Trump is using technology as a means of pressure scares many companies away.

Also Price increases international providers are causing problems for mostly small and medium-sized companies. Two years ago, many domestic customers of a US virtualization service provider were confronted with price increases of several hundred percent.

The dependence on US companies is great. Depending on the area, they estimate up to 70 percent of companies as very or somewhat strong. Many therefore rely on further training and Know-how especially when dealing with Open source solutionsto avoid close ties to one provider.

More than half are thinking about switching to a domestic or European provider. “The likelihood of you becoming a pawn is not so great,” says Graf.

Slight increase in sales

In 2025, the companies represented in the division will have an increase in sales of just under five percent recorded. If you take inflation out, stay 2.7 percent left over. Assessed at the beginning of the year 46 percent of those surveyed considered the business situation to be good. That is four percentage points less than in the previous year. Demand is falling in many industries, says Roth. One cannot isolate oneself from the overall economic situation.

For this year, an increase in sales is expected 5.3 percent. AI has so far had little impact on staffing levels. It should be around around this year in the division five percent grow.