{"id":{"repo_id":"reykjavik","oai_identifier":"oai:skemman.is:1946/49103"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/reykjavik/oai:skemman.is:1946/49103","repository":{"repo_id":"reykjavik","name":"Reykjavík University","base_url":"https://skemman.is/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"AI adoption in Icelandic tech startups : applications, barriers, and future opportunities","abstract":"This mixed-methods study investigates the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within Iceland's tech startups, addressing a research gap in smaller economies. Leveraging the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the study examines current AI applications, barriers to adoption, and future opportunities among Icelandic tech startups. Data were collected through qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, with purposive sampling ensuring the inclusion of participants offering diverse insights into AI adoption challenges and strategies. The findings reveal that AI adoption in Icelandic tech startups is viewed as transformative, offering potential for operational efficiency, product innovation, and enhanced customer engagement. However, the adoption process remains in its early stages, hindered by practical barriers including limited technical expertise, financial constraints, and data quality issues. Regulatory concerns, such as compliance with data protection laws, further complicate the integration of AI technologies. These challenges are compounded by the characteristics of small economy like Iceland's, which restricts resource availability and scalability compared to larger markets. Despite these obstacles, the research highlights a growing optimism within Icelandic tech startups, driven by a collaborative entrepreneurial culture and supportive government initiatives. Participants emphasized the importance of targeted interventions, including talent development programs, enhanced access to funding, and clearer regulatory guidance, to enable successful AI integration.","abstract_html":"This mixed-methods study investigates the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within Iceland's tech startups, addressing a research gap in smaller economies. Leveraging the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the study examines current AI applications, barriers to adoption, and future opportunities among Icelandic tech startups. Data were collected through qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, with purposive sampling ensuring the inclusion of participants offering diverse insights into AI adoption challenges and strategies. The findings reveal that AI adoption in Icelandic tech startups is viewed as transformative, offering potential for operational efficiency, product innovation, and enhanced customer engagement. However, the adoption process remains in its early stages, hindered by practical barriers including limited technical expertise, financial constraints, and data quality issues. Regulatory concerns, such as compliance with data protection laws, further complicate the integration of AI technologies. These challenges are compounded by the characteristics of small economy like Iceland's, which restricts resource availability and scalability compared to larger markets. Despite these obstacles, the research highlights a growing optimism within Icelandic tech startups, driven by a collaborative entrepreneurial culture and supportive government initiatives. Participants emphasized the importance of targeted interventions, including talent development programs, enhanced access to funding, and clearer regulatory guidance, to enable successful AI integration.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Ásgeir Hólm Sævarsson 1989-"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Háskólinn í Reykjavík"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-01-21T09:48:56Z","date_published":"2025-01-21T09:48:56Z","updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:36:46Z","subjects":["Stjórnun nýsköpunar","Meistaraprófsritgerðir","Gervigreind","Tækninýjungar","Nýsköpun í atvinnulífi","Innovation management","Artificial intelligence","Technological innovations"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/1946/49103","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Háskólinn í Reykjavík"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Ásgeir Hólm Sævarsson 1989-"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-01-21T09:48:56Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-01-21T09:48:56Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-01-21T09:48:56Z"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Stjórnun nýsköpunar","Meistaraprófsritgerðir","Gervigreind","Tækninýjungar","Nýsköpun í atvinnulífi","Innovation management","Artificial intelligence","Technological innovations"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/1946/49103"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This mixed-methods study investigates the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within Iceland's tech startups, addressing a research gap in smaller economies. Leveraging the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the study examines current AI applications, barriers to adoption, and future opportunities among Icelandic tech startups. Data were collected through qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, with purposive sampling ensuring the inclusion of participants offering diverse insights into AI adoption challenges and strategies. The findings reveal that AI adoption in Icelandic tech startups is viewed as transformative, offering potential for operational efficiency, product innovation, and enhanced customer engagement. However, the adoption process remains in its early stages, hindered by practical barriers including limited technical expertise, financial constraints, and data quality issues. Regulatory concerns, such as compliance with data protection laws, further complicate the integration of AI technologies. These challenges are compounded by the characteristics of small economy like Iceland's, which restricts resource availability and scalability compared to larger markets. Despite these obstacles, the research highlights a growing optimism within Icelandic tech startups, driven by a collaborative entrepreneurial culture and supportive government initiatives. Participants emphasized the importance of targeted interventions, including talent development programs, enhanced access to funding, and clearer regulatory guidance, to enable successful AI integration.","Þessi rannsókn byggir á blandaðri rannsóknaraðferð og skoðar innleiðingu gervigreindar (AI) í nýsköpunar tæknifyrirtækjum á Íslandi. Notast er við Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) rammann til að greina núverandi notkun, hindranir við innleiðingu og framtíðartækifæri íslenskra nýsköpunar tæknifyrirtækja. Gögnum var safnað með eigindlegum viðtölum og megindlegum könnunum, og var val með tilgangsúrtaki tryggt til að fanga fjölbreytt sjónarmið um áskoranir og aðferðir við innleiðingu AI. Niðurstöður sýna að AI er talið umbreytandi afl í íslenskum nýsköpunar tæknifyrirtækjum, með möguleika á að bæta rekstrarhagkvæmni, auka nýsköpun í vörum og bæta samskipti við viðskiptavini. Hins vegar er innleiðingin á byrjunarstigi og hindrast af skorti á tæknilegri þekkingu, fjárhagslegum takmörkunum og gæðum gagna. Einnig koma reglugerðaráhyggjur, eins og um persónuvernd í veg fyrir innleiðingu AI. Þessar áskoranir bætast við einkenni lítilla hagkerfa eins og Íslands, sem takmarka framboð og sveigjanleika auðlinda samanborið við stærri markaði. Þrátt fyrir þessar áskoranir er vaxandi bjartsýni innan íslenskra nýsköpunar tæknifyrirtækja, knúin af samvinnumenningu og stuðningi stjórnvalda. Þátttakendur lögðu áherslu á mikilvægi markvissra aðgerða eins og þróunar á hæfni, betra aðgengi að fjármagni og skýrari leiðbeininga í reglugerðarmálum til að stuðla að farsælli innleiðingu AI."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["AI adoption in Icelandic tech startups : applications, barriers, and future opportunities","Innleiðing gervigreindar í íslenskum nýsköpunar tæknifyrirtækjum : notkun, hindranir og framtíðartækifæri"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Háskólinn í Reykjavík"],"dc:creator":["Ásgeir Hólm Sævarsson 1989-"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-01-21T09:48:56Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-01-21T09:48:56Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-01-21T09:48:56Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This mixed-methods study investigates the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) within Iceland's tech startups, addressing a research gap in smaller economies. Leveraging the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework, the study examines current AI applications, barriers to adoption, and future opportunities among Icelandic tech startups. Data were collected through qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, with purposive sampling ensuring the inclusion of participants offering diverse insights into AI adoption challenges and strategies. The findings reveal that AI adoption in Icelandic tech startups is viewed as transformative, offering potential for operational efficiency, product innovation, and enhanced customer engagement. However, the adoption process remains in its early stages, hindered by practical barriers including limited technical expertise, financial constraints, and data quality issues. Regulatory concerns, such as compliance with data protection laws, further complicate the integration of AI technologies. These challenges are compounded by the characteristics of small economy like Iceland's, which restricts resource availability and scalability compared to larger markets. Despite these obstacles, the research highlights a growing optimism within Icelandic tech startups, driven by a collaborative entrepreneurial culture and supportive government initiatives. Participants emphasized the importance of targeted interventions, including talent development programs, enhanced access to funding, and clearer regulatory guidance, to enable successful AI integration.","Þessi rannsókn byggir á blandaðri rannsóknaraðferð og skoðar innleiðingu gervigreindar (AI) í nýsköpunar tæknifyrirtækjum á Íslandi. Notast er við Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) rammann til að greina núverandi notkun, hindranir við innleiðingu og framtíðartækifæri íslenskra nýsköpunar tæknifyrirtækja. Gögnum var safnað með eigindlegum viðtölum og megindlegum könnunum, og var val með tilgangsúrtaki tryggt til að fanga fjölbreytt sjónarmið um áskoranir og aðferðir við innleiðingu AI. Niðurstöður sýna að AI er talið umbreytandi afl í íslenskum nýsköpunar tæknifyrirtækjum, með möguleika á að bæta rekstrarhagkvæmni, auka nýsköpun í vörum og bæta samskipti við viðskiptavini. Hins vegar er innleiðingin á byrjunarstigi og hindrast af skorti á tæknilegri þekkingu, fjárhagslegum takmörkunum og gæðum gagna. Einnig koma reglugerðaráhyggjur, eins og um persónuvernd í veg fyrir innleiðingu AI. Þessar áskoranir bætast við einkenni lítilla hagkerfa eins og Íslands, sem takmarka framboð og sveigjanleika auðlinda samanborið við stærri markaði. Þrátt fyrir þessar áskoranir er vaxandi bjartsýni innan íslenskra nýsköpunar tæknifyrirtækja, knúin af samvinnumenningu og stuðningi stjórnvalda. Þátttakendur lögðu áherslu á mikilvægi markvissra aðgerða eins og þróunar á hæfni, betra aðgengi að fjármagni og skýrari leiðbeininga í reglugerðarmálum til að stuðla að farsælli innleiðingu AI."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/1946/49103"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:subject":["Stjórnun nýsköpunar","Meistaraprófsritgerðir","Gervigreind","Tækninýjungar","Nýsköpun í atvinnulífi","Innovation management","Artificial intelligence","Technological innovations"],"dc:title":["AI adoption in Icelandic tech startups : applications, barriers, and future opportunities","Innleiðing gervigreindar í íslenskum nýsköpunar tæknifyrirtækjum : notkun, hindranir og framtíðartækifæri"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T20:36:46Z"}