AI Goes Mainstream in the Baltics: Lithuania Leads, Latvia Close Behind

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday life in Latvia, while businesses across the Baltic region are moving from adoption to assessing its economic benefits.

Two surveys published in November 2026 reveal different sides of this transformation. Latvia’s Central Statistical Bureau (CSP) measures how individuals use AI, while the European Investment Bank’s Investment Survey (EIBIS) examines the adoption of generative AI by companies.

Together, they show how widely the technology is spreading and how differently businesses across the three Baltic economies are experiencing its benefits.

More Than Half of Latvia’s Internet Users Already Use AI

In 2026, 58.2% of Latvian internet users aged 16–74 reported using artificial intelligence, compared with 35.1% a year earlier.

Personal use remains the most widespread, rising from 28% to 53%. However, AI is also gaining ground in the workplace: the share using it for professional purposes increased from 15.5% to 24.8%.

Among employed internet users, 62.6% use AI, including 33.2% who use it for work-related tasks.

Young people remain the most active users. In the 16–24 age group, AI adoption reached 91.3%, while among school and university students it stood at 95.8%.

But some of the fastest growth is now occurring among older age groups.

AI adoption increased by 29.1 percentage points among people aged 45–54 and by 26.1 percentage points among those aged 35–44. Among internet users aged 55–64, it more than tripled, from 12.1% to 36.8%.

The technology is also becoming particularly widespread among highly educated internet users. The share using AI increased from 47.3% to 72.3% in a single year.

Lithuanian Businesses Lead Baltic AI Adoption

The EIB Group Investment Survey 2026 reveals extensive use of generative AI in business.

Across the European Union, 67% of companies report using generative AI, while a further 13% are planning or evaluating its adoption within the next year.

Lithuania and Latvia are both slightly above the EU average, while Estonia is below it.

Generative AI use, 2026	Latvia	Lithuania	Estonia	EU
Already using generative AI	69%	73%	58%	67%
Main benefits already visible*	17%	37%	28%	21%

Source: EIB Group Investment Survey 2026. The second indicator refers only to companies already using generative AI. Survey results are weighted by value added.

Lithuania’s adoption rate is also close to that of the United States, where 71% of companies report using generative AI.

However, the more striking differences emerge when businesses are asked when they expect the main benefits of AI to materialise.

The Next Question: What Does AI Deliver?

Lithuania stands out not only for its high adoption rate but also for the share of AI-using companies reporting that the main benefits are already visible.

At 37%, Lithuania is ahead of the EU average of 21% and close to the US figure of 35%.

Estonia presents a different picture. Although its overall adoption rate is the lowest among the Baltic countries, 28% of its AI-using companies say the main benefits have already materialised.

Latvia, meanwhile, combines relatively high business adoption with more modest reported results: 17% of AI-using companies say the main benefits are already visible.

Across the EU, operational efficiency and cost reduction remain the dominant expected benefits. Companies are using generative AI to automate routine tasks, analyse data, improve workflows and create content.

There is still a gap between European and American businesses in growth-oriented applications. While 34% of EU companies use generative AI in marketing and sales, the figure reaches 50% in the US. Product development remains another area where American companies report higher adoption.

From Adoption to Economic Value

AI is no longer a niche technology in the Baltic region. In Latvia, its use has spread across age groups, educational backgrounds and the workforce. In business, Lithuania and Latvia report adoption rates slightly above the EU average.

The next challenge is different: turning widespread use and experimentation into measurable business improvements.

The Baltic comparison shows that the extent of adoption and the timing of expected benefits do not necessarily move together. Lithuania leads the region on both indicators, while Estonia and Latvia present different combinations of adoption and reported results.

Sources: Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, ICT Usage Survey 2026; European Investment Bank, EIB Group Investment Survey 2026 — European Union Overview.

Methodological note: CSP measures AI use among individuals, while EIBIS surveys systematic use of generative AI by firms. The indicators describe different populations and should not be directly compared.