A new report by the AI Chamber, based on insights from more than 3,200 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), paints a striking picture of the region’s AI readiness: while over 75% of businesses say they are using artificial intelligence, only 25% are doing so at scale.

Titled “How Do SMEs in CEE Find Their Way in the World of AI?”, the study maps out how AI is reshaping operational workflows across 11 CEE countries – but also where gaps in leadership, talent, and regulatory awareness are holding many companies back.

The report uncovers four dominant mindsets shaping AI readiness in the region: Practical Optimists, Aware with Barriers, AI Indifferent, and Digitally Withdrawn. These categories reflect more than technological maturity – they reveal how vision, organizational structure, and risk appetite determine success or stagnation.

“This report challenges the prevailing myth that AI adoption is simply a matter of access to technology. The decisive factor is organizational maturity – leadership clarity, talent readiness, and strategic intent,” says Tomasz Snazyk, CEO of the AI Chamber.