Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming embedded across Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), but adoption is moving faster than the region’s ability to manage it responsibly. New findings from KPMG suggest that while organisations and individuals are embracing AI tools at scale, gaps in skills, governance and regulatory awareness are becoming increasingly visible.

The report, ‘AI in Central and Eastern Europe- Between potential and responsibility’, draws on a global survey of more than 48,000 respondents across 47 countries, including over 6,000 participants from Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary. It shows average AI adoption across CEE has reached 59%, with Poland leading the region at nearly 70%.

However, capability development has not kept pace. Fewer than one in three AI users across CEE has completed any formal training, with Slovenia recording the highest proportion of untrained users at 43%. This imbalance highlights a core regional challenge: AI enthusiasm is outstripping investment in the skills needed to deploy and govern the technology effectively.

Respondents strongly associate AI with productivity gains. Improved access to information and efficiency are cited by 77% of users, while 76% point to reduced repetitive work. At the same time, concern is growing around AI-generated misinformation, inaccurate outputs and the erosion of human interaction, particularly in markets where publicly available generative AI tools are widely used.

Regulatory awareness remains a major blind spot. As many as 89% of respondents across CEE say they are unfamiliar with existing AI regulations. While Romania shows comparatively higher awareness, knowledge levels in countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia remain low. Across the region, respondents express greater trust in international regulatory frameworks than in domestic oversight, with nearly 80% of Polish respondents favouring global regulation.

Workplace adoption is advancing quickly, but governance is uneven. More than 70% of employees in Poland report that their organisations use AI tools, with similar levels seen in Romania and Slovenia. Yet only 30% of Polish employees say their employer has formal AI usage policies, and many rely on publicly available tools rather than employer-provided systems, raising concerns around data security and oversight.

Risky behaviours are already common. Between 20% and 30% of employees across the region admit to using AI without knowing organisational policies, uploading company data to public platforms or relying on AI outputs without proper verification. These practices are most prevalent in Poland, Slovenia and Romania.

Concerns about job displacement remain moderate but persistent. Around 31% of employees fear AI could replace their roles, while only 21% expect net job creation. According to Andrzej Gałkowski, Partner and Head of AI at KPMG in Poland and CEE, this cautious sentiment underscores the need for reskilling, clearer communication and people-centred AI strategies if adoption is to translate into long-term value.