The year 2026 marks a significant leap forward in AI adoption in the Nordics, according to a new survey conducted by software and technology consulting company Tieto. At the same time, concerns remain high around skills and competence gaps, security, and autonomous AI agents. Data from Finland, Sweden and Norway shows that turning efficiency into measurable value is now the key challenge. This is the second consecutive year that Tieto has carried out a Nordic AI survey.
About one third (31%) of respondents say that AI is now in production across the business in their organization – compared with just 7% the year before. At employee level, adoption is widespread, with 30% using AI solutions to a large extent, and all respondents reporting some level of AI use. Nearly a third (29%) of organizations have already started experimenting with their own custom AI agents.
Adoption varies significantly by country. Sweden is ahead, with 39% of employees using AI extensively, compared with 26% in Finland and 23% in Norway. AI has already become part of everyday work, with the highest levels of use in IT operations (46%), customer service (35%), and software development (35%), largely unchanged from last year.
Efficiency remains the main driver – impact is the next challenge
Efficiency (65%) continues to be the key driver for AI adoption, in line with last year’s findings. Other motivations include modernizing operations (35%), reducing costs (32%), and improving customer experience (27%).
Organizations continue to measure the impact of AI mainly through short-term operational gains: productivity (33%) and cost savings (31%) are quoted as the top KPIs. 24% of organizations still lack formal KPIs altogether. This varies by market: in Norway, nearly one-third (31%) report having no KPIs, while in Finland the figure drops to 17%.
“Everyone talks about AI, but only half are using it to any significant extent. The market is still stuck in the pilot trap. Scaling is held back by the organization, not the technology. The real value lies in safely integrating AI into core operations – with clear ownership, governance and objectives,” says Andreas Almquist, Head of AI Strategy and Transformation at Tieto Tech Consulting.
Security concerns and skills gaps stand out as key barriers
Concerns around security and data privacy remain the biggest challenges to scaling AI. Nearly half of respondents (45%) cite security concerns as the main barrier to AI adoption. Respondents are also concerned about how autonomous AI agents handle data and the reliability of their outputs.
“Data security and privacy concerns often arise when users adopt AI tools outside established IT processes. The risk is that these concerns become a brake on development. Secure solutions are entirely achievable when AI is deployed in a controlled way and integrated into the organization’s operating models,” says Jutta Karjalainen, AI expert at Tieto Tech Consulting.
Skills and competence gaps are the second major obstacle. Almost four in ten organizations (39%) say the skills gap is slowing AI adoption, highlighting the need for training and upskilling.
“Changes in ways of working have not yet taken root at scale. Organizations that align business objectives with skills development can turn AI into a tangible competitive advantage,” Karjalainen adds.
Responsible AI is advancing – but progress remains uneven
About one third of the respondents report that policies or guidelines related to responsible use of AI are in place. Norway shows the highest share of completed policies (38%), while Sweden has the largest share of respondents uncertain about the status of their policies (16%).
“AI implementation needs to be accompanied by robust, responsible governance to mitigate risks and ensure ethical use. Organizations must also take a deliberate and forward-looking approach to AI, not only in how they operate today, but to support sustainable development over time,” says Magnus Hjelmfeldt, Director of AI at Tieto Tech Consulting.
About Tieto’s Nordic AI study:
Tieto’s quantitative study was conducted in February 2026 and included a total of 623 respondents from Finland, Sweden and Norway (approximately 200 per country). The respondents were from medium- and large-sized organizations (100+ employees) who either contribute to or support AI-related decision-making. Participants were recruited via an online panel by Norstat. The respondents represent more than 15 industries and come from different companies and organizational positions. The sample does not represent the national workforce; rather, it consists specifically of IT decision‑makers.
In 2025, Tieto’s Nordic AI study consisted of two components: qualitative interviews and a quantitative study. A total of 10 in-depth interviews with IT decision-makers were conducted in Finland (6) and Sweden (4) between January and March 2025. The quantitative study, conducted in February 2025, included 415 respondents form Finland and Sweden (approximately 200 per country). All the respondents were from medium- and large-sized organizations (100+ employees) who either contribute to or support AI-related decision-making. Participants were recruited via an online panel by Norstat.
Read more about the Nordic AI survey results
For more information, please contact:
Tieto Newsdesk, news@tieto.com, tel. +358 40 570 4072
Tieto is a leading software and digital engineering services company with global market reach and capabilities. We provide customers across different industries with mission-critical solutions through our specialized software businesses Tieto Caretech, Tieto Banktech and Tieto Indtech, as well as our digital engineering business Tieto Tech Consulting. Our around 14 000 talented vertical software, design, cloud and AI experts are dedicated to empowering our customers to succeed and innovate with latest technology.
Tieto’s annual revenue is approximately EUR 2 billion. The company’s shares are listed on the NASDAQ exchange in Helsinki and Stockholm, as well as on Oslo Børs. www.tieto.com