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AI Sweden puts AI on decision makers' agenda in Almedalen

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

AI Sweden's garden in Almedalen once again served as a central hub for discussions on the transformative power of AI over three days. With a strong focus on courageous leadership and the critical need for enhanced expertise and high-level collaboration, AI Sweden highlighted key issues for how Sweden can lead the AI transition and navigate future challenges.

Garden mingle seen from above

The AI Sweden Garden mingle, Almedalen 2025

From June 24th to 26th, AI Sweden's garden brought together a diverse group of decision makers, experts, business leaders, and public sector representatives to explore the most relevant and forward-looking questions within AI. Seminars, panel debates, and roundtable discussions covered everything from strategic leadership and innovation to sustainability and societal benefits.

On stage: Karin Hübinette, Erik Slottner, (KD) Civilminister, Martin Svensson, Managing Director, AI Sweden

From left: Karin Hübinette, moderator, Erik Slottner, (KD) Minister for Public Administration of Sweden and Martin Svensson, Managing Director at AI Sweden.

Karin Vajta Engström

AI Sweden's garden has quickly become an important arena for leadership and AI in Almedalen. Seeing decision makers from politics, business, and the public sector gather to discuss how we can collectively ensure Sweden uses AI for true value creation is not only gratifying but also underscores the importance of the issues we address.

Karin Vajta Engström

Head of Communication at AI Sweden

Karin Vajta Engström

Key societal issues in focus: From a changing workforce to responsible AI

Over three days, AI Sweden hosted 16 seminars. These sessions touched upon AI technology's impact on various parts of society. The discussions kicked off with a panel debate on leading in the AI era, where Niclas Backlund, Head of GCU at Ericsson, Pernilla Ramslöv, CEO of Nox Consulting, and AI Sweden's Managing Director, Martin Svensson, discussed what decision makers need to do to extract value from AI.

Under the heading "AI is fundamentally changing working life – how prepared are we?", former Minister for Employment and Integration Mats Persson (L) and Jan-Olof Jacke, CEO of Svenskt Näringsliv (Confederation of Swedish Enterprise), discussed the impact of AI technology on the labor market and future skills supply.

Important conversations also took place regarding AI in healthcare, how municipalities are building data-driven decisionmaking, AI technology's role in defense, the future electricity grid, and the need for national guidance for AI in schools.

The week concluded with a panel discussion on responsible AI in practice featuring Eric Leijonram, Director General of the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY), Caroline Atelius, COO, Microsoft Sweden, and Nicklas Mårtensson, Chairman, Funktionsrätt Sverige (Swedish Disability Rights Federation). There was also a conversation on how to maximize Nordic capacity for action and competitiveness, with participants including Minister for Civil Affairs Erik Slottner.

Curious about the discussions in AI Sweden's Garden?

All seminars from AI Sweden's garden in Almedalen 2025 were recorded and are available at ai.se/almedalen.

Continue exploring

Truth or dare?

Additionally, decision makers were challenged in AI Sweden's "Truth or Dare" game; you can read more about it here.

The card game: Sanning eller konsekvens 'Ett spel om AI för modiga ledare'
Images from Almedalen 2025 leaders playing Sanning eller konsekvens

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