New study draws attention: How businesses use AI in 2026
Only 8% of Norwegian organisations say they have measured and documented concrete gains from AI. At the same time, 65% plan to use AI for efficiency in the coming year. This is the paradox leaders need to solve.
used AI in 2025
plan efficiency use
documented gains
High adoption, little documented impact
The planning and impact figures come from Computas' KI-paradoksene 2026 report, based on a Norstat survey of 914 leaders and IT decision-makers.
This does not mean AI fails for everyone else. It means they cannot prove whether it works. Without a baseline, companies cannot reliably scale successes or stop weak initiatives.
Use has more than doubled
A separate Samfunnsøkonomisk Analyse report found that 55% of Norwegian businesses used AI in 2025, up from 24% in 2023. It was commissioned by NHO and several industry organisations. Read the full report.
General-purpose tools lowered the barrier to entry. They also explain part of the paradox: granting access is easy; changing a workflow so saved time becomes capacity or revenue is harder.
Frontrunners stand apart
SØA estimates that roughly 20% of businesses are AI frontrunners. They integrate AI more broadly into core processes and report productivity gains and increased revenue more often than occasional experimenters. One in five also uses AI to develop new products or services.
| Testing AI | Creating value |
|---|---|
| Many scattered tools | One prioritised workflow |
| A feeling of saved time | Before-and-after measurement |
| AI beside the work | AI inside the process |
Three moves that reveal impact
- Measure the baseline. Record time, quality, errors or conversion before changing the process.
- Prioritise one process. Choose work that consumes significant time or directly affects revenue.
- Build competence. Computas identifies missing competence as the largest barrier. Tool access is not training.
A better first question
Do not ask “How much AI do we use?” Ask “Which workflow became faster, better or more profitable—and how do we know?”
Sources
- Computas: KI-paradoksene 2026, published 10 August 2026.
- Samfunnsøkonomisk Analyse: AI use in Norwegian business, report 1-2026.
Map where AI could create measurable value in your business.
Frequently asked questions
How many Norwegian businesses use AI?+
The SØA report says 55% used AI in 2025, up from 24% in 2023.
How many document gains?+
In the Computas survey, 8% said they had measured and documented concrete gains.
What do AI frontrunners do differently?+
They integrate AI into core processes, prioritise concrete use cases and measure impact instead of counting tools.
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