Digia’s Survey: AI Usage in Finland Has Taken a Leap in About Six Months, but Much Potential Remains

Digia’s survey was answered by 67 representatives from Finland’s 500 largest companies and public administration.

“In the previous survey conducted about six months ago, a narrow leading group stood out, appearing to be ahead. Now, the responses still highlight a leading group, but it is broader. Clearly, things are starting to be done with AI,” says Juhana Juppo, Chief Technology Officer of Digia.

The most progress in six months has been in AI-related planning and innovation. In the previous survey, about 20 percent reported having a clear vision and implementation plan for utilizing AI and data. In the new survey, the proportion of these respondents has nearly doubled to 37 percent.

Additionally, 24 percent now fully or somewhat agree with the statement “significant value has been achieved through data and AI,” compared to only 7 percent in the previous survey.

“The number of respondents who feel they are gaining significant value from AI is three times higher than six months ago. Such a change in half a year indicates that we are moving in the right direction and things are now being done rapidly. However, 24 percent is still a relatively small number, and there is much more to be gained from AI,” Juppo assesses.

AI’s Autonomous Decision-Making: The Next Big Question

Nearly two-thirds of respondents report that AI does not make independent decisions in any situation.

“AI’s role currently seems to be mainly to support people in decision-making. However, the greatest benefits are often achieved when processes, or sub-processes, can be properly automated, which may also require giving decision-making to AI. This seems to be one of the next important questions for Finnish organizations: identifying in which matters and under what conditions AI can be included in decision-making and in which matters human involvement is always absolutely necessary,” Juppo says.

However, a pioneering group of just over 10 percent already reports utilizing AI’s autonomous decision-making.

“In this matter, the survey clearly distinguishes between the narrow leading edge and the large mass. It’s good that there are already encouraging examples,” Juppo says.

AI Benefits Becoming Clear to Middle Management – Top Management Confident in Security

AI involves various security and protection issues, but in this respect, Finns seem to be able to breathe a sigh of relief. The clear majority of respondents (76%) were fully or somewhat confident that security and protection issues are in order, and the rest were at least partially confident.

“However, only 42 percent report that AI-related compliance requirements are well managed in their organization. There is a slight contradiction between these two responses. Organizations still have work to do in understanding what AI-related regulation means for them and what needs to be considered regarding security and protection,” Juppo says.

Top management is more confident in security and protection than middle management. However, middle management’s views on AI utilization and its benefits are more positive than those of top management.

“This indicates that things are now being done. AI is starting to appear as concrete everyday matters on middle management’s desks: they get to experiment and gain experience. It is becoming clear that this AI is not just talk and thin air, but it actually has benefits,” Juppo says.

More information:

Juhana Juppo
Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Digia
tel. 040 172 2859
juhana.juppo(a)digia.com