The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) will increase Germany’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 13% by 2040, according to a study published today by consulting firm McKinsey.

Just by the use and implementation of this technology, Germany’s GDP could increase by US$639 billion through automatically generated text tools like ChatGPT or Bard, images like Stable Difussion, and other AI programs.

This would also reduce the shortage of qualified workers in Germany, given the aging population and still insufficient immigration to fill certain positions.

In the country, job vacancies have quadrupled since 2004 and will reach 800,000 by 2022.

According to the study, Germany has a strong foundation to take a leading role in artificial intelligence in Europe or even the world.

“Europe needs a local driving force in a pan-European network to jointly shape the transformative power of generative AI and not lag behind the United States and China,” said Gérard Richter, head of McKinsey Digital in Germany and Europe, in a statement cited by the agency DPA .

However, he warned that, unlike countries such as the UK, Switzerland and France, AI still lacks financial support in Germany.

In terms of ability to create artificial intelligence applications, Germany ranks top in Europe and third in the world, behind the United States and China.

“Technology has the potential to automate some jobs, freeing people from routine tasks and thereby creating new scope for creative work and innovation. This could also offset the slowdown in overall productivity growth in recent decades,” said Holger Hürtgen, partner at McKinsey.

Hürtgen, adds that the use of generative AI is particularly promising for activities that require a high level of training.

“These activities are complex and therefore benefit greatly from optimization and automation,” he said.

In this case, activities such as law, natural sciences, mathematics, and computing will also benefit from the use of artificial intelligence.

On the other hand, physical work, such as in the construction or agricultural sectors, will not show much change, according to the study.