The project examines the determinants and challenges involved in implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in companies. The study focuses specifically on small and medium-sized enterprises and family businesses. These play a key role in many regions of Germany in terms of employment and the spread of innovative technologies across the economy. Despite the great potential of AI, smaller companies in particular face major challenges and uncertainties that can inhibit the implementation of these new technologies. Based on detailed and comprehensive surveys with experimental elements, the project will examine the determinants of willingness to adopt AI applications and the factors that inhibit their adoption from the perspective of entrepreneurs and employees. First, a decision-making experiment (known as a “conjoint experiment”) will be conducted in an initial company survey to assess managers' willingness to adopt AI applications. Subsequently, a parallel survey of employees will be conducted to understand their acceptance of AI in various areas of application. Finally, information provision experiments will be used in a second company survey to analyze the influence of employees' preferences on managers' AI adoption strategies. The company surveys will also record other characteristics, such as management strategies for coping with employees resistance and investments in training and re-skilling.