Adoption of AI in Finnish Small and Medium size Enterprises : AI opportunities, challenges and misconceptions
Keränen, Tiina (2025)
2025
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025101325968
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025101325968
Tiivistelmä
Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers significant potential for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), yet many Finnish SMEs remain at the pilot stages of AI adoption. This thesis examined how AI readiness and awareness can be improved among Finnish SMEs by exploring key concepts, opportunities, challenges and common misconceptions associated with AI technologies.
The study was guided by the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and IBM definitions, providing a theoretical foundation for understanding both technical and regulatory dimensions. A qualitative research methodology was used, combining document analysis and thematic synthesis of recent studies, surveys, news, posts, policy papers and guidelines. Insights were drawn from national reports, industry publications and EU-level initiatives supporting AI deployment in the SME sector.
As a key outcome, the thesis produced a set of practical guidelines aimed at increasing AI awareness, improving conceptual understanding and offering concrete steps for Finnish SMEs to begin or accelerate AI adoption. These recommendations are designed to align with national and EU-level support structures, including AI literacy initiatives and regulatory sandboxes.
The study was guided by the EU Artificial Intelligence Act and IBM definitions, providing a theoretical foundation for understanding both technical and regulatory dimensions. A qualitative research methodology was used, combining document analysis and thematic synthesis of recent studies, surveys, news, posts, policy papers and guidelines. Insights were drawn from national reports, industry publications and EU-level initiatives supporting AI deployment in the SME sector.
As a key outcome, the thesis produced a set of practical guidelines aimed at increasing AI awareness, improving conceptual understanding and offering concrete steps for Finnish SMEs to begin or accelerate AI adoption. These recommendations are designed to align with national and EU-level support structures, including AI literacy initiatives and regulatory sandboxes.