Engage the leadership team, establish principles for governance and innovation, and work to increase data maturity. These are some of the recommendations from the AI Council formed through the Kraftsamlingen initiative.
Iwona Carlsson, Kungsbacka Municipality, and Fredrik Edholm, Skaraborgs kommunalförbund, represented the AI Council on stage in November 2024. The AI Council has since made further progress.
For the past three years, Kraftsamling for AI in Municipalities and Civil Society has supported municipalities and non-profits in exploring and adopting AI. A key part of the initiative has been the AI Council – a group of representatives from twelve municipalities of varying size and contexts. Based on their experiences, the council has compiled a set of recommendations for municipalities at different stages of their AI journey, from early exploration to more advanced implementation.
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The municipalities in the council have begun exploring and implementing AI, gaining important experience along the way. Now, we want to share our insights with the rest of Sweden's municipalities – to help others take their first steps or move further along than they are today. The council's recommendations are not meant to be a comprehensive checklist, but more of a guide with practical tips – like a smörgåsbord – that we have found useful and effective.
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Iwona Carlsson
Head of Digitalization in Kungsbacka Municipality and one of the council members
Andreas Skog, AI Change Agent at AI Sweden, has convened the council:
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Following the Kraftsamlingen initiative, there is now both experience and capacity to implement AI in municipal operations. The AI Council's role as a catalyst is crucial for continued development. That’s why the council will continue its work – evolving into a national competence network for Sweden's municipalities, in collaboration with the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR).
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Andreas Skog
AI Change Agent at AI Sweden
Kraftsamling for AI in Municipalities and Civil Society has been coordinated by AI Sweden since 2022, with funding from Vinnova and in collaboration with SKR, DIGG, and the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF).
The initiative has provided tailored support and financial resources to help municipalities and nonprofits take their first steps with artificial intelligence.
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