Lars Dynesius, Business Development Manager at IT Total, believes that Swedish companies must take the step and get started with AI – preferably yesterday.

AI is one of the most important things humanity is working on right now and will be more transformative for humanity than electricity and fire. It said Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, and these are thoughtful words that focus on how big an impact AI will have.

Swedish companies hesitate – and risk falling behind

Even though the possibilities with AI are enormous, we see how many Swedish companies are still hesitant. They are afraid of making mistakes. They want to evaluate, review, get everyone involved before moving forward. And that is precisely why there is a risk of falling behind.

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Paradigm shift requires action

Sweden is a country that is far ahead in digitalization, but we also have a consensus culture. We want to make decisions based on thorough investigations. Nothing can go wrong. Right now we are in a paradigm shift, where new technology is changing the rules of the game, and then there is no room to turn over every stone. AI is not an IT project, it is an operational issue. And it requires action.

Small steps are better than no steps at all

Companies that wait to test AI risk standing still as competitors rush past.

This does not mean that you should throw yourself headlong into projects with sensitive data or build your entire business on untested solutions. This means you have to get started, test something, maybe replace a boring and repetitive element. Start small and learn. Competence comes with experience – but only if you actually do something.

What does it mean to be AI-ready?

Being “AI-ready” is about three things:

• Strategy: AI must be put on the agenda. It requires a clear responsibility on the part of someone or a few to drive the issue.
• Competence: You need to have internal understanding – or an external AI partner.
• Data: You have to have control over your data. That's the foundation of everything.

The role of the management team is crucial

Unfortunately, we see that many management teams are too operational. They spend too little time monitoring the world around them and do not ask themselves often enough the question: “Why is this happening and how does it affect us?” AI is not something that only concerns the IT department. It is a strategic issue for the entire organization.

Safety – a matter of course from beginning

Of course, safety must be included from the beginning. IT Total If this is our home turf and you are unsure about your data, we recommend starting with what is not the most confidential. This gives you breathing space to review information security issues while also allowing the learning process to begin. But the biggest risk right now is not making a mistake – but doing nothing at all.

Conclusion: Act now – before it’s too late

Do you want your company to be competitive in six months? Then you need to start now. Your competitors are already doing it. AI is not the future, it is the present. And it is time to act. The technology is already in place – but it is not what will determine whether you succeed.

- Lars Dynesius, Business Development Manager at IT Total