I'll help you prepare for your interview with a data expert from Latvia focusing on AI use. Here are a few clarifying questions to better tailor the information:

1. Are you interested in specific sectors where AI is being applied in Latvia (e.g., finance, healthcare, government services), or would you prefer a general overview of AI adoption across all sectors?

2. Would you like information about Latvia's position within the EU regarding digital transformation and AI policies, as this could provide context for your interview?

3. Is there any specific aspect of the data expert's background you'd like to know more about (e.g., academic institutions in Latvia, major research centers) to help establish rapport during the interview?

Of course. Here is a strategic plan to build a comprehensive research report for your upcoming interview.

Latvia Country Profile & AI Landscape: Research Report

1. Latvia: Country Overview

Geographic and Demographic Profile

Latvia is a Baltic nation located on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, sharing borders with Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus, and Russia. The country covers an area of 64,589 square kilometersEuropean Union. As of early 2023, Latvia had a population of approximately 1.883 million inhabitantsEuropean Union. Notably, 2022 marked the first time since 1989 that Latvia's population increased (by 0.39%), primarily due to the influx of Ukrainian refugees following Russia's invasion of UkraineEuropean Union.

The ethnic composition of Latvia is diverse, with Latvians constituting 62.4% of the population, followed by Russians (23.7%), Ukrainians (3.0%), and Belarusians (3.0%)European Union. This ethnic distribution varies significantly across regions, with Latvians forming a minority in some major cities like Daugavpils, where they represent only 21% of the populationEuropean Union.

Political System and International Position

Latvia is a democratic parliamentary republic where legislative power resides with the single-chamber parliament called the SaeimaEuropean Union. The president serves as the head of state and is elected by the parliament for a four-year term. The government is led by a prime minister who is appointed by the presidentEuropean Union.

A significant milestone in Latvia's recent history was its accession to the European Union in 2004, which has had a substantial positive impact on its economic developmentEuropean Union. The country's strategic geographic position has historically made it an important meeting point between Europe and Central Asia, as well as between northern and southern Europe中国政府网.

Language and Cultural Context

The official language of Latvia is Latvian, which belongs to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language familyEuropean Union. Understanding this linguistic context is crucial when interviewing Latvian professionals, as language forms an important part of national identity, especially given the country's history of foreign rule.

Historical Context

Latvia's modern history has been marked by periods of independence interspersed with foreign domination. The country first declared independence in 1918European Union, but was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940European Union. After five decades of Soviet rule, Latvia regained its independence in 1991European Union. In 2018, the country celebrated the centenary of its first republicEuropean Union.

This historical context of occupation and independence has shaped Latvia's national identity and continues to influence its political and economic relationships, particularly with Russia and Western Europe.

Economic Landscape

Latvia's economy is predominantly service-based, though industry and agriculture also play significant rolesEuropean Union. The country's strategic location has made it an important logistics hub, with significant infrastructure development focused on ports, railways, and highways中国政府网.

Recent economic challenges include the impacts of Russia's war in Ukraine, which has depressed private investment and productivity, compromising Latvia's further economic developmentimf.org. Despite these challenges, Latvia has made progress in digitalization, with the share of enterprises achieving at least a basic level of digital skills improving by 12.5% in 2023European Union.

2. Latvia's AI Ecosystem

National AI Strategy

Latvia has developed a comprehensive national AI strategy, which was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in July 2019European Union. The primary objective of this strategy is to promote AI technology applications across public administration, economic sectors, and scientific domains while enhancing Latvia's international competitivenessEuropean Union.

The strategy focuses on several key areas:

• Raising AI awareness and expertise in the public sector
• Promoting AI adoption in both public and private sectors
• Developing AI education and research capabilities
• Strengthening international cooperation
• Establishing responsible legal and ethical frameworks for AIEuropean Union

Specific measures outlined in the strategy include creating frameworks for data management and sharing, developing AI testing environments, increasing funding for AI research, cultivating AI talent, and participating in EU and international AI initiativesEuropean Union.

Key AI Companies and Organizations

Tilde

Tilde stands out as Latvia's most prominent AI company and one of Europe's leading language technology firmsEuropean Union. The company specializes in:

• Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine translationEuropean Union
• Custom neural machine translation systemsEuropean Union
• Natural language understanding/processing (NLU/NLP)European Union
• Automated speech recognition (ASR)European Union

Tilde's achievements include:

• Winning the EU's Large AI Grand Challenge in 2024, receiving a share of €1 million in prize money and access to Europe's supercomputing resourcesEuropean Union
• Developing the Estonian-Latvian Neural machine translation system in collaboration with the Estonian translation agency AvatarEuropean Union
• Contributing to the development of UNA, a conversational AI agentEuropean Union
• Creating Hugo.lv, the Latvian state administration's machine translation platform that provides freely accessible technology to Latvian residentsEuropean Union

Tilde's CEO, Artūrs Vasiļevskis, leads the company's focus on innovative language technology solutions, including training and customizing AI modelsEuropean Union.

Research Institutions

Riga Technical University (RTU) is a key academic institution driving AI research in Latvia. The university conducts research in several AI-related fields, including:

• Autonomous systems and robotics
• Image and sound processing
• Smart sensor systemsEuropean Union

Innovation Hubs

Riga TechHub serves as a community center for tech entrepreneurs and startups in LatviaEuropean Union, providing a platform for networking and collaboration within the country's growing tech ecosystem.

AI Applications and Focus Areas

Latvia's AI development appears to be particularly strong in the following domains:

1. Language Technologies: Given Latvia's small language community, there has been significant investment in AI-powered language tools to preserve and promote the Latvian language while enabling international communication. Tilde's machine translation systems exemplify this focusEuropean Union.

2. Public Sector Applications: The national AI strategy emphasizes public sector adoption of AI technologies, with examples like the Hugo.lv translation platform demonstrating this commitmentEuropean Union.

3. Cross-Border Collaboration: Latvia actively participates in regional AI initiatives, as evidenced by the Estonian-Latvian machine translation projectEuropean Union, which leverages AI to strengthen ties between neighboring Baltic states.

3. Key Insights for Your Interview

When interviewing a data expert from Latvia, consider the following contextual factors:

1. Historical Perspective: Latvia's relatively recent independence and its journey toward digital transformation provide important context for understanding how AI is perceived and adopted in the country.

2. Language Sensitivity: Given Latvia's focus on language technology and the importance of the Latvian language to national identity, discussions about AI should acknowledge the role of language preservation alongside technological advancement.

3. EU Integration: Latvia's membership in the EU shapes its AI policy and provides access to European funding and collaboration networks, which likely influences your interviewee's work and perspective.

4. Specialized Expertise: Latvia has developed particular strength in language technology AI applications, so your interviewee may have specialized knowledge in this domain, especially if they have connections to Tilde or academic institutions like Riga Technical University.

5. Scale Considerations: As a small country with limited resources, Latvia's approach to AI necessarily differs from that of larger nations. This may have influenced your interviewee's experience with developing or implementing AI solutions at appropriate scales for the local context.

By approaching your interview with awareness of these national and technological contexts, you'll be better positioned to understand your Latvian data expert's perspective on AI development and application.