Despite the government’s major investment in artificial intelligence (AI), a recent NHO survey shows that several Norwegian companies are skeptical about using it.
NHO CEO Ole Erik Almlid believes that it is necessary for more Norwegian companies to start experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI). Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / NTB
Published:
September 10
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“We see that many companies are now experimenting. It’s absolutely necessary. Everyone must understand the value of artificial intelligence, no matter what they work with. If not, we risk falling behind,” says CEO Ole Erik Almlid of NHO.
Only 5 percent of NHO’s member companies who participated in the organization’s membership survey in July responded that artificial intelligence is a pervasive part of their business.
Out of the 2295 respondents, 52 percent said they are testing AI in parts of their business, while 41 percent said they use AI to a limited extent and have individual employees testing AI tools in their daily work.
Labeled Norwegian companies are far behind neighboring countries in their use of AI, according to Abelia, the association for knowledge and technology companies in NHO. Photo: Cornelius Poppe / NTB
“Will change the way we work”
“Artificial intelligence will change the way many of us work,” says CEO Øystein E. Søreide of Abelia.
Abelia is the association for knowledge and technology companies in NHO.
He says Norwegian companies are far behind neighboring countries in their use of AI, and that a boost is needed. There are also significant differences between industries in terms of who uses AI and who does not.
Within finance, 43 percent report using AI in their daily operations, while in the seafood industry, 27 percent report the same, according to NHO. However, within health and welfare companies, the proportion is only 6 percent.
More want training
According to NHO, 92 percent of companies have no guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence.
Only 23 percent plan training to take more advantage of AI, but at the same time, 43 percent say they lack information or training on the opportunities AI can provide.
“Companies should consider guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence,” says Almlid.
“AI challenges us in critical thinking and source criticism. People must always have the final say if AI is used in everything from recruitment to text formatting,” he reassures.
The government has announced plans to allocate over one billion kroner for research on artificial intelligence and digital technology in the next five years.
