Portugal’s AI Moment: Cafés, Companies and Classrooms United for Growth

Portugal's AI Awakening: Routine Today, Prosperity Tomorrow

Across cafés in Lisbon, classrooms in Porto and boardrooms in Algarve, AI is weaving itself into daily life, yet the promise of an economic boom remains partly unfulfilled.

Key Highlights for Portuguese Residents

• 67% engage with an AI tool at least once a month.

• 81% of 18–34 year olds are regular users.

• Only 11% of companies above 10 employees deploy AI technologies.

• 5% of individuals save over 5 hours weekly thanks to AI.

• Government earmarks €400 M for the Agenda Nacional de IA through 2030.

From Novelty to Necessity

Over the past year, monthly AI engagement in Portugal climbed by 15 pp to 67%, according to BCG’s Consumer Sentiment Survey 2025. Young adults lead the charge at 81%, while 43% of all age groups now employ AI weekly for tasks ranging from travel planning to homework support. This surge signals a shift: AI no longer lives on the margins but underpins everyday choices, from shopping lists to creative projects.

The Corporate Catch-up

Despite individual enthusiasm, business adoption lags. Just 11% of Portuguese firms with 10+ staff integrate AI into workflows—well below the EU average of 20%. Adoption scales with firm size:

• 49% of large enterprises (250+ employees)

• 18% of mid-caps (50–249 employees)

• 9% of small businesses (10–49 employees)

Barriers include skill shortages (74%), perceived high costs (60%) and legal uncertainty (57%), highlighting the need for practical training and clear regulations.

Building Talent and Leadership

Portugal’s universities and institutes have ramped up offerings to meet demand:

• University of Coimbra’s LIACD: 60 slots for a hands-on Bachelor in Inteligência Artificial e Ciência de Dados.

• ISEP’s AI Engineering Master: Pioneering challenge-based learning in Generative AI and Vision systems.

• ULisboa’s LLM in AI Law: Intensive legal specialization limited to 20 students.

• Citeforma, TECH Portugal and IPAM: Modular evening courses for working professionals.

Yet only 24% of employees feel adequately trained, underscoring the gap between course supply and industry readiness.

National Strategy in Motion

Under the Agenda Nacional de Inteligência Artificial (ANIA), Portugal commits €400 M to 2030, structured around four pillars:

Innovation & Adoption: Fast-track grants for SME AI integration with up to 75% co-funding (cap €300 k).

Talent & Skills: Launch of an AI Fast Track visa to import expertise.

Infrastructure & Data: Strengthening digital backbone and data ecosystems.

Ethics & Governance: Aligning with EU AI Act for responsible deployment.

Additional support streams include the Portugal 2030 programme and IFIC’s €315 M envelope for innovation.

Stories of Early Payoff

Several Portuguese companies exemplify best practice:

• Ascendi harnesses AWS Generative AI to power its customer chatbots, slashing response times and freeing staff for complex queries.

• Infraestruturas de Portugal maps return on people, process and future in every AI pilot, ensuring scalable ROI and ROP metrics.

Altogether, 77% of these front-runners report tangible productivity gains, while 56% have trimmed costs or boosted revenues.

Path to a Smarter Economy

Most forecasts see AI adding €18 B–€22 B to Portugal’s GDP by 2030 and lifting productivity growth by 2.7 pp. Yet realization hinges on closing the training divide, embedding AI in decision-making and nurturing leaders who view this tech as an invisible economic infrastructure.

Key Takeaways for Residents

• Prioritise hands-on learning over software alone.

• SMEs should capitalise on IA nas PME grants before deadlines.

• Align corporate policies with the incoming EU AI Act essentials.

• Cultivate AI literacy across teams to maximise time-and-cost savings.

• Monitor emerging pilots in smart cities and green energy for local opportunities.

Portugal may have crossed the Rubicon of AI interest, but the real journey to a smarter, more competitive economy is only beginning.