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A JOURNAL FROM THE NORWEGIAN OCEAN INDUSTRY AUTHORITY

AI can give Norway a competitive edge

Photo of  Kristine Dahl Steidel, CEO, Microsoft Norge Photo: Elisabeth Kjørmo
Balancing the positive aspects of AI with an awareness of its challenges will allow the technology’s full potential to be exploited in a sustainable and ethical manner, maintains Microsoft Norge CEO Kristine Dahl Steidel.

Kristine Dahl Steidel, CEO of Microsoft Norway, believes AI has a massive potential for fuelling value creation and enhancing efficiency. She also thinks Norway can lead the way in applying it responsibly.

  • Artificial intelligence

Dahl Steidel was one of the speakers at Havtil’s top executive conference this autumn, where the authority presented its main issue for 2025 to business leaders.

She comments here on the issue and explains why she believes Norway can take the lead on responsible application of AI while striking a balance between risk and opportunity.

What’s your response to Havtil choosing “Artificial intelligence is also a risk factor” as its main issue for 2025?

I think this is important and relevant. AI has a massive potential for fuelling value creation and enhancing efficiency – revolutionising the way we work, boosting productivity and creating new opportunities across different industries.

It can help to automate routine tasks, for example, analyse large volumes of data quickly and accurately, and enhance customer services through AI assistants and personalised recommendations.

It’s also important to be conscious of the risks and challenges which accompany the technology. AI can pose ethical dilemmas linked to data protection and the potential for distortions in the algorithms.

Ensuring that AI is developed and implemented prudently, with a focus on transparency, fairness and security, will be crucial. We must also be prepared for the social and economic impacts, such as fluctuations in the labour market and the need for new skills and expertise.

By balancing the positive aspects with an awareness of the challenges, we can exploit AI technology’s full potential in a sustainable and ethical way.

You’ve said earlier that you believe Norway is paying too much attention to the risk aspects of AI. What do you mean by that?

When I say that we’re focusing too much on the risks, I mean that we often allow ourselves to be influenced by negative scenarios which create fear and uncertainty. These may include worries that AI will take over jobs, cause massive unemployment, or even evolve into a threat to humanity.

Although it’s important to be aware of potential risks and challenges, I feel such fears might prevent us from exploiting the enormous benefits and opportunities AI could offer.

This technology has the potential to revolutionise many aspects of our society. It could, for example, enhance health services by analysing medical data faster and more accurately than people can, and thereby yield better diagnoses and treatments.

In the business sector, AI can help to boost productivity and efficiency by automating routine tasks and optimising processes. Where education is concerned, it can be tailored to individual learning needs and offer more customised teaching.

Concentrating too much on the risks means we might miss out on these opportunities. I believe instead that we should adopt a more balanced approach, where we acknowledge and manage risk while actively exploring and investing in AI’s positive aspects.

That entails promoting research and development, supporting innovation, and creating a regulatory regime which ensures responsible use of the technology.

Adopting a more optimistic and progressive view of AI will allow us to ensure that Norway becomes a leader in technology and innovation, while also safeguarding our values and societal interests.

How do you view the balance between benefits and risks in adopting AI?

Striking a balance is all about having a realistic understanding of what the technology can do for us. On the one hand, we must be aware of the risks associated with AI, such as data protection issues, security threats and potential job losses. These require thorough assessment and management to ensure that AI is used responsibly.

On the other hand, we must also be open to the major opportunities which the technology offers with regard to value creation and greater efficiency.

It has the potential to revolutionise many industries by automating routine tasks, improving decision-making through data analysis and creating products and services which can enhance the quality of life.

Patient care can be bettered, for example, by analysing medical data and suggesting treatment plans, or customer service might be strengthened by offering faster and more specific responses to enquiries.

To achieve this balance, it’s important to increase understanding of and knowledge about AI among both executives and employees. That means investing in training and expertise development as well as promoting a culture of innovation and continuous learning.

What do you think are the biggest challenges we face with regard to using AI right now?

These challenges include several aspects, and relate to a lack of insight into the technology.

Many businesses and individuals still have limited understanding of how AI works and can be applied effectively. This may create false expectations and misunderstandings about what AI can and can’t do.

Another aspect is a lack of insight into the way gains can be realised. Although many people are aware of AI’s potential, they’re often uncertain about how this can be turned into reality.

Addressing this requires a strategic approach, which starts by identifying specific areas where AI can create value, and then implement solutions able to measure and document the potential gains.

This is also about a lack of expertise. People with the knowledge necessary to develop, implement and maintain AI-based systems are in very short supply.

That includes technical expertise as well as a general understanding of how AI can be integrated into business processes. To meet this challenge, we must invest in training and expertise development, and promote a culture of continuous learning.

To exploit the potential of AI fully, we must work to enhance our understanding and knowledge of it. This means offering training and resources to help both managers and employees to grasp how AI can be used effectively and prudently.

We must also promote collaboration between different sectors and professions to ensure that we have the expertise and insight required to realise the benefits of AI.

AI has the potential to revolutionise many aspects of our society.

How can we achieve an optimal interplay between humans, technology and organisation?

Entrenchment in top management is crucial here. This means that senior executives must engage with and actively support the implementation of technological solutions. When they exhibit a clear commitment to technological initiatives, a culture of innovation and continuous improvement is created throughout the organisation.

The technology must be used to support and reinforce the human contribution, which means tools and systems should be designed to enhance the work of employees rather than replace it.

Automating routine tasks, for example, frees up time for personnel to focus on more strategic and creative work. That can boost productivity and job satisfaction, while producing better results for the organisation.

A clear understanding of how AI can create value in the organisation is also important. That calls for a strategic approach to identify specific areas where AI offers the greatest possible gain.

Mapping and analysing processes makes it possible to identify opportunities for efficiency enhancements and improvements through technological solutions. That can range from enhanced data acquisition and analysis to better communication and collaboration across departments.

How can we best prevent AI solutions making us more vulnerable to external threats and malicious acts?

Trust in our technology partners and the solutions we use is crucial, and we must be proactive in identifying and managing potential vulnerabilities. This means security must become an integral part of the development process, from design to implementation and maintenance.

Integrating security measures in all phases of an AI solution’s life cycle enables us to reduce the risk of vulnerabilities and to ensure that the technology is used responsibly.

Trust in technology is an important point. What’s its significance for using AI? And, from a slightly different perspective, how important is trusting the technology companies?

Trusting technology is essential for exploiting the potential offered by AI. We must be confident that this functions as intended and is used in a responsible manner.

It’s equally important that we feel assured that the technology companies supplying the solutions observe ethical guidelines. In my view, trust in technology is the crucial factor if we’re to adopt and extract the maximum benefit from the new solutions which AI represents.

To preserve and reinforce this trust, the technology must be more than just a tool which offers a competitive edge – it must also provide a safe and ethical resource.

A strong culture of trust offers us the freedom to take better decisions, to collaborate openly and effectively, and to dare seize new opportunities. In Norway, we have an inherent belief that decisions are taken with the best interests of society in mind.

Trust means we can dare to take risks and set ambitious goals – like the risk we took as a nation when we knew very little about how important and significant the petroleum industry would become for our economy.

Opportunities for Norwegian success are here again. With an energy sector developing world-class digital value chains and one of the world’s most digitalised public sectors, we have a solid foundation for using AI to raise productivity, value creation and prosperity to new heights.