General

Kratt

Communicative metaphor for software agents/AI systems.

How the laws define this

Estonian guidance consistently treats Kratt as a metaphor or shorthand for narrow, task-oriented artificial intelligence systems designed to automate tasks and provide decision support or replace human operators. The instruments diverge primarily in whether they emphasize technical concepts or practical public-sector implementation. The Report of Estonia’s AI Expert Group (Eesti tehisintellekti kasutuselevõtu ekspertrühma aruanne) takes a foundational approach, defining Kratts as learning software agents that differ from conventional automation, highlighting the need to formalize these traits for regulation and procurement. In contrast, Estonia’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2019–2021 treats the term as a framework for reusable assets, methods, and building blocks produced and shared across government for interoperable deployments. Expanding this practical focus, the AI Action Plan (Kratt) 2022–2023 (Tehisintellekti tegevuskava 2022–2023) uses Kratt as an operational shorthand for a structured rollout, framing a specific program of pilot deployments, service integrations, and reusable components implemented across public services and additional domains.

Synthesised from the 3 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first. Showing 2 of the 3 instruments that define this term; all are listed under Definitions below.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
Estonia	Report of Estonia’s AI Expert Group	Adopted	This definition contrasts Kratt-type systems with conventional automation and stresses capturing their characteristics in terminology for regulation and procurement.
Estonia	Estonia’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2019–2021	Adopted	This definition narrows Kratt to AI systems, methods and reusable building blocks intended for public-sector reuse across government.

Definitions (3)

A metaphor used by the report to describe AI systems as software agents that automate tasks, learn from data, and can assist or replace human operators in narrow domains; the report contrasts Kratt‑type systems with conventional automation and stresses the need to capture these characteristics in terminology for regulation and procurement.

Report of Estonia’s AI Expert Group (Eesti tehisintellekti kasutuselevõtu ekspertrühma aruanne)Definition 1 of 3

A locally adopted metaphor used in the strategy to denote AI systems, methods and reusable building blocks intended for public‑sector reuse; the term frames AI assets produced and shared across government for decision support, automation and interoperable deployments.

Estonia’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2019–2021Definition 2 of 3

An operational shorthand used in the strategy for narrow, task‑oriented AI systems implemented in public services and other domains; the term frames the programme of pilot deployments, reusable components and service integrations promoted by the Action Plan.

AI Action Plan (Kratt) 2022–2023 (Tehisintellekti tegevuskava 2022–2023)Definition 3 of 3

Not to be confused with

Bürokratt

Bürokratt is a specific programme to modernise administrative processes with AI, while Kratt is the broader metaphor for AI systems.

KI‑system (AI system)

KI-system refers to any machine-based system producing predictions, recommendations or decisions, whereas Kratt is a metaphor specifically for task-automating software agents in Estonian contexts.

Questions and answers

What makes Kratt different from regular automation?

The Report of Estonia’s AI Expert Group uses Kratt as a metaphor for AI systems that automate tasks, learn from data, and assist or replace humans in narrow domains, contrasting them with conventional automation.

How is Kratt used in Estonia's AI Strategy?

Estonia’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2019–2021 adopts Kratt to denote AI systems, methods and reusable building blocks for public-sector reuse in decision support, automation and interoperable deployments.

What does Kratt represent in Estonian AI policy?

Kratt serves as a communicative metaphor for software agents or AI systems that automate tasks and learn from data, as framed in Estonia’s policy instruments.