AI Literacy Day Estonia — Europe's First National AI Literacy Initiative
Vattan PS
We Built a Digital Nation. Can We Build an AI-Literate One?
Only 14% of Estonian companies use AI. Yet 61% of jobs will be significantly impacted by AI.
This gap isn't just statistics — Estonia's future is at stake.
For months, we've been building momentum across Estonia. Through EstoniAI Meetups, we've brought together 750+ AI enthusiasts. Through New Nordics AI Week and AI/ML Forum, we've connected decision-makers ready to act.
But awareness alone isn't enough. Using ChatGPT daily doesn't equal AI literacy. True AI transformation requires understanding data strategy, ethical frameworks, change management, and implementation methodology.
This goes deeper than skills. It's about AI sovereignty. Estonia needs leaders, educators, and changemakers who think and work WITH AI — transforming their organizations and communities, not just consuming foreign-built technologies.
That's why we're launching Europe's first national AI Literacy Day on September 29 at TalTech, in partnership with TalTech, AIRE, EIS and EXAI.
The Hidden Cost of AI Illiteracy
Right now, Estonian leaders are making costly mistakes. They're approving AI projects with a 70% failure rate. They're falling for AI washing that costs tens of thousands of euros. Or worse — they're avoiding AI entirely out of fear while competitors gain ground.
Meanwhile, 75% of knowledge workers globally already use AI tools. The EU AI Act obligations begin February 2, 2025. Organizations that aren't prepared will scramble for compliance while prepared leaders turn regulation into competitive advantage.
The decisions Estonian leaders make about AI today determine whether Estonia leads or follows in the AI era.
300 Leaders. One Day. Real Transformation.
The math is simple but powerful: 300 participants × 100 people they influence = 30,000 AI-literate Estonians in year one. By 2027, we'll transform that 14% into 70%.
This multiplier effect only works if we start with the right people — leaders who can cascade AI literacy throughout their organizations and communities.
Who These 300 Leaders Are
Education Leaders
University professors, school principals, and curriculum developers will learn how to prepare students for an AI-transformed world. Beyond detecting AI-generated content, they'll discover how to teach WITH AI and develop AI-enhanced learning methods.
Your Impact: Shape how 100,000+ students think WITH AI
L&D and HR Heads
Corporate learning leaders responsible for workforce development will gain frameworks for organizational AI strategy. They'll learn to identify AI washing, understand ROI calculations, and discover how to build AI-empowered teams that thrive rather than fear transformation.
Your Impact: Transform how Estonian businesses work WITH AI
Public Sector Officials
Government leaders implementing AI in public services will master ethical AI requirements and compliance frameworks. They'll learn from successful government AI implementations worldwide and discover how to build transparent AI services citizens trust.
Your Impact: Ensure every Estonian benefits from AI fairly
NGO and Civil Society Leaders
Community organizations shaping public discourse will transform from AI skeptics to AI advocates. They'll gain the knowledge to guide their communities through AI transformation while ensuring no one is left behind.
Your Impact: Bring AI literacy to every Estonian community
Startup Ecosystem Builders
Innovation enablers and support organizations will master the AI landscape to better support Estonian startups. They'll learn to identify real AI from washing, understand implementation challenges, and guide entrepreneurs effectively.
Your Impact: Accelerate Estonia's AI innovation ecosystem
The ChatGPT Misconception
Here's a critical truth: using ChatGPT is like knowing how to use Google — it's a starting point, but true AI literacy means understanding how these systems work, their limitations, when to trust them, and how to evaluate outputs critically.
Many professionals think they're AI-literate because they prompt ChatGPT daily. But they can't identify AI washing, don't understand data bias, and can't make informed decisions about AI implementation in their organizations.
Real AI literacy creates what we call an "AI Mindset" — enhanced capabilities WITH AI while maintaining control. It requires understanding fundamentals, practical application, and critical evaluation.
Your Transformation Journey: September 29
The day follows UNESCO's validated AI literacy framework: Acquire → Deepen → Create.
Morning: Foundation Building (10:15-13:15)
Data Strategy + WITH-AI Professional (10:15-11:15) Build your AI foundation with 5-point data readiness assessment. Transform your role and create new AI-enabled positions. Understand Estonia's X-Road advantage for AI implementation.
AI Implementation Playbook (11:15-12:15)
Learn why most AI projects fail and yours won't. Master build vs buy decisions, spot AI washing with our 5-question vendor test, and calculate real ROI.
Culture & Change Management (12:15-13:15) Transform the unprepared into AI champions. Build innovation culture and scale from pilot to organization-wide implementation. Get your 90-day culture transformation roadmap.
Afternoon: Strategic Implementation (14:00-17:00)
Learning WITH AI (14:00-15:00) Foster AI literacy from the ground up. Build training programs, design curricula for different audiences, and launch your personal 90-day learning journey.
Beyond Compliance: Ethical AI Development as Existential Risk Management (15:15-16:15) Go beyond checklists. Identify and reduce existential and systemic AI risks across design, deployment, and daily use.
Estonia 2030: World's First AI-Literate Nation (16:15-17:00) High-impact panel with government ministers and tech leaders discussing how AI creates more jobs than it replaces and Estonia's path to becoming Europe's AI lighthouse.
Every session delivers practical frameworks you'll use immediately: data readiness assessments, vendor evaluation cards, ROI calculators, compliance toolkits, and your personalized 90-day implementation roadmap.
Beyond September 29: The Multiplier Effect
AI Literacy Day is just the beginning. The real transformation happens after:
- 90-Day Champion Program: Continuous support for implementing what you've learned
- Educational Portal: Self-paced learning resources launching October 2025
- Video Library: Free resources in Estonian, English, and Russian
- Community Network: Ongoing connection with 300 fellow changemakers
When 300 leaders each influence 100 people, the impact scales exponentially. Within a year, 30,000 Estonians gain AI literacy. By 2027, Estonia transforms from 14% to 70% AI adoption.
Estonia's Unique Advantages
Estonia has done this before. We pioneered digital governance with X-Road, launched e-Residency, and achieved 98% digital ID adoption. Now we're applying those same principles to AI literacy.
Our advantages are clear:
- Digital foundation: 62.6% of Estonians have basic digital skills, above EU average
- Size as strength: 1.3 million people means nationwide transformation is achievable
- Trust with skepticism: Estonian culture combines institutional trust with healthy questioning
- Aligned ecosystem: Government, academia, and private sector working together
Finland reached 1% AI literacy with Elements of AI. We can do more.
Why Safety and Literacy Go Hand in Hand
While we work to ensure AI is safe, we must also ensure people are AI-literate enough to use it responsibly. You can't have one without the other.
This isn't just about economic competitiveness or regulatory compliance. It's about ensuring every Estonian has agency in our AI-driven future.
It's about building AI sovereignty — creating our own solutions rather than depending on foreign tech giants.
Join Europe's First National AI Literacy Movement
The AI literacy gap isn't about technology itself or Estonia being small. It's about mindset — and that's what we're changing on September 29.
Estonia proved a small nation can lead the world in digital transformation. Now we'll prove the same for AI literacy.
For Target Groups
If you're an education leader, L&D/HR head, public sector official, NGO leader, startup ecosystem builder, or researcher, request your invitation: ti.kirjaoskus.ee/portal/kutse
Event Details
AI Literacy Day 2025
September 29 | TalTech, Tallinn | 10:00-17:00+
A Founderly AIM initiative in partnership with TalTech, AIRE, EIS and EXAI
Capacity: 300 participants (200 invited + 100 open seats)
Language: Estonian
Website: ti.kirjaoskus.ee
Contact: [email protected]
About Founderly: Founderly AIM (AI Momentum) has driven Estonia's AI ecosystem forward through EstoniAI Meetups, New Nordics AI Week, and AI/ML Forum. AI Literacy Day represents the next evolution — transforming awareness into action, attendance into impact.