Unique overview of AI initiatives in Swedish municipalities
Nine out of ten Swedish municipalities are actively engaged in AI projects, though most are small, uncoordinated, and unevenly distributed across the country, with considerable differences between larger and smaller municipalities.
“Our mapping identified just over 1,000 AI-related initiatives, which is very encouraging. However, many municipalities are working on similar projects and the risk is that these initiatives may stay at the pilot stage. If all 290 Swedish municipalities reinvent the wheel on their own, we won’t be able to tap into AI’s full potential for public welfare. We need clear guidance and collective efforts that incentivize resource-efficient development and compensate for our decentralized governance model.”
Rebecka Lönnroth
Head of AI Adoption for the Public Sector at AI Sweden
Commissioned by AI Sweden, the analytics firm Dcipher Analytics mapped AI-related initiatives across Sweden’s 290 municipalities using AI tools and data from annual reports, databases, surveys, and other sources. Between 2022 and 2024, a total of 1,008 initiatives were active across 263 municipalities.
The map showcases a summary of current AI projects by application area and objectives. The data is publicly accessible on an interactive website, kommunkartan.ai.se, designed to be a valuable tool for municipalities aiming to expand their use of AI.
“We know that many AI projects are underway across the country, but this is the first time we have a comprehensive overview. Over a thousand projects may sound substantial, but that averages to under four per municipality. The data shows that a handful of large municipalities are leading, while most smaller ones have only one or two active projects. We need to address key challenges—such as legal frameworks and shared infrastructure—and focus on spreading knowledge from more experienced municipalities to those that are at the beginning of their AI journey,” Lönnroth adds.
Explore the interactive map at kommunkartan.ai.se, and read the report's summary and findings.
The mapping was carried out by Dcipher Analytics, and the design and development of the Kommunkartan was done by Datastory, on behalf of AI Sweden.
Key findings from the report:
- AI initiatives were found in 263 out of Sweden’s 290 municipalities
- 90% of municipalities have engaged with AI in some capacity
- A total of 1,008 AI-related projects were identified
- 38% of municipalities have initiatives in education and schools
- 35% of municipalities have projects focused on citizen services and communication
- 30% of municipalities have initiatives in social services, healthcare, and eldercare
- 61% of municipalities reported that their AI initiatives aim to improve citizen services
- 60% indicated improved resource efficiency as the main objective
Facts about Collaboration for AI in municipalities and civil society
This mapping is part of the “Collaboration for AI in municipalities and civil society” initiative, a four-year collaboration between AI Sweden, Vinnova, DIGG (the Swedish Agency for Digital Government), MUCF (the Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society), and SKR (the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions).
The initiative provides tailored support to municipalities and civil society on effectively utilizing AI. Participants gain access to education, workshops, and AI Sweden’s network. Funded projects in targeted calls by Vinnova also receive additional support throughout the project period.
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