In September, the French government shared the results of its Osez l’IA program, which aims to promote the use of artificial intelligence among businesses. The program has succeeded in raising awareness, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but the actual implementation of AI tools remains limited. According to the 2026 edition of the France Num barometer, the adoption of AI by SMEs has grown significantly over the past two years, tripling from 13% in 2024 to 40% in 2026. This increase reflects a steady upward trend, with the share of SMEs using AI rising by 19 percentage points in just one year. The growth of AI adoption among SMEs is even more pronounced compared to 2024, when only 16% of SMEs were using AI solutions. However, the adoption of AI is not evenly distributed across all sectors of the economy. The France Num report notes that digital companies and those offering specialized or technical services are leading the way, with 72% and 60% of companies using AI, respectively. In contrast, traditional sectors such as finance, construction, transport, food production, and agriculture are significantly behind, with adoption rates ranging from 18% to 46%. These differences mirror broader trends in the use of digital technologies across various industries. Most SMEs are using AI for relatively simple tasks, particularly generative AI, which includes tools that create text, voice, or images. Around 34% of SMEs use these tools, while 24% use conversational assistants like chatbots, and 13% use AI for document analysis and classification. Only a small percentage—9%—are using AI for more complex tasks like data analysis, forecasting, or optimizing resources. Despite the relatively basic use of AI, 68% of SMEs report being satisfied with its impact on their businesses. However, only 19% of all SMEs are using paid AI solutions, with the rate rising to 32% among SMEs. Among those who pay for AI services, 84% report a positive impact, but the majority of expenses are spent on subscriptions and licenses, with only a small portion going toward training or consulting. To encourage more companies to move from awareness to actual implementation, the French government has launched the second phase of its Osez l’IA program. The goal is to increase the number of AI diagnostics—assessments that help companies understand how to best use AI—to 1,000. These diagnostics will then be turned into action plans. To support this transition, the government has introduced AI Accelerators, which are designed to help businesses implement AI solutions. These initiatives are partially funded by the France 2030 program, with 46% of the funding provided by it. In 2026, a new promotion was launched focusing on two main areas: the AI Accelerator and the AI & Industry Accelerator, both aimed at helping businesses integrate AI more effectively.