As the World Economic Forum 2026 draws to a close today in Davos, one theme stands out with unusual clarity: artificial intelligence has become the defining strategic priority for the year ahead. European leaders leave Davos aligned on the need to accelerate AI adoption and seize its economic potential.
Yet the conversations throughout the week pointed to something equally important: to unlock this potential fully, we must ensure that our people come with us on this journey. This is not a warning, but a tremendous opportunity, one that European countries are uniquely well positioned to embrace.
Accenture’s latest Pulse of Change report highlights rising confidence across major European economies. Ninety-one percent of executives expect stronger revenue growth in 2026, and hiring intentions are strengthening. After a period marked by caution, European businesses are stepping into the year with renewed ambition.
Much of this momentum is driven by AI. Eighty-four percent of organisations across Europe plan to increase their AI investments this year, with particularly strong acceleration in countries such as Germany, Italy and Ireland. Leaders increasingly see AI not only as a lever for efficiency, but as a foundation for new value creation. For BeLux companies, central players in financial services, life sciences, logistics and advanced services, this shift represents a strategic inflection point.
But as AI adoption grows, we also see natural variations in how people feel about this change. Across Europe, enthusiasm sits alongside uncertainty. Only a quarter of employees currently feel confident using AI tools, and fewer than half say they fully understand how AI will reshape their roles. These numbers are signals that workers are eager to learn but are asking for clearer guidance, more communication and more practical experience.
The distinction that matters now is not between employees who are skilled and those who are not. It is between those who already use AI regularly and those who have not yet had the chance to get used to it. Once employees begin experimenting with AI, their perspective shifts. They see how it can elevate their work, amplify their expertise and open new avenues for growth. Our task as leaders is to make that first step accessible to everyone.
Companies in Luxembourg and Belgium have strong foundations to lead the way: highly skilled and multilingual workforces, strong innovation ecosystems, and cultures that value social dialogue and responsible progress. Luxembourg’s financial sector and Belgium’s thriving life sciences, logistics and public-sector innovations illustrate how quickly our region can scale good ideas when people are empowered.
To unlock the full potential of AI, we must match technological ambition with human empowerment. That starts with clear communication: explaining how AI will support people, elevate roles and open new opportunities. It also means giving every team the skills to use AI confidently as it reshapes decisions, operations and customer experiences.
Equally important is involving employees directly in shaping how AI is deployed within their organisation. When they are invited to co‑create solutions, adoption accelerates, concerns ease and innovation strengthens. AI becomes not a top‑down initiative, but a shared project.
The message from Davos and the Pulse of Change report is consistent: European countries are ready to move faster, and the opportunity is transformative. But the true measure of success will not be how rapidly we deploy technology. It will be how effectively we empower our people to thrive alongside it.
If we bring everyone with us, if we equip and support every worker, not just early adopters, countries like Luxembourg and Belgium, and Europe as a whole, can set a global benchmark for human-centric, high-performance AI. That is the promise of 2026. And it is ours to seize together.
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