KVK research: entrepreneurs take little action to comply with AI legislation

Medium-sized SME businesses (10+ employees) in particular realise that the AI Act will have consequences: 44% expect an impact, compared to 22% of smaller SME businesses. Yet virtually no one in this group is taking any measures yet. In total, only 2–3% are actively preparing. More than half of all entrepreneurs say they have no plans.

Gap between use and knowledge

Entrepreneurs are discovering AI in practice. Three in 10 now use applications such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot. Among service providers, this figure rises to 46%. A quarter expect generative AI to become important for their business. Among medium-sized businesses, this figure is as high as 50%. Entrepreneurs who are familiar with the AI Act are more likely to recognise the strategic importance of AI.

Much uncertainty and many questions
In addition to the low level of knowledge, there is a great deal of doubt. Four in 10 entrepreneurs do not know whether the AI Act will affect them. Many entrepreneurs wonder whether the rules apply to their business at all. Self-employed professionals in particular say they do not know where to start.

What the AI Act requires
The AI Act divides applications into 4 risk levels: minimal, limited, high, and unacceptable. The higher the risk, the stricter the requirements. For high-risk applications (such as in healthcare, education, finance, or security), strict rules apply regarding transparency, data quality, documentation, and human supervision.

Users – not just developers – are also responsible for correct use. They must check whether an application falls under the law, make agreements with suppliers, be transparent to customers (for example, that a chatbot is not a human), and train employees. From 2025, parts of the Act will apply in phases, and from 2026, it will apply in full.

Use of ChatGPT or Copilot
For self-employed professionals and SMEs that use generative AI, the risk is usually limited. This means minor obligations, especially regarding transparency. Nevertheless, the business owner remains ultimately responsible and the supervising authority can intervene in the event of incorrect or unsafe use.

Risk, even for small businesses
Robert Bakker, advisor at KVK: "More and more entrepreneurs are using AI tools, often without fully understanding their capabilities and limitations. Results can be outdated, incorrect, or even discriminatory. I am not surprised that entrepreneurs are still largely unfamiliar with the AI Act, but it does entail risks – including for small businesses. Unsafe use can lead to legal problems, fines, or reputational damage. KVK informs and advises entrepreneurs on this subject." During the KVK Ondernemersdagen (Entrepreneurs' Days) on 14 and 15 November, the subject will be explored in more depth in inspirational sessions.

About the survey
The figures are taken from the KVK Omnibus edition of June 2025. For this, 651 entrepreneurs – both self-employed professionals and SMEs – completed an online questionnaire on various topics.