The risks of AI rules and a perfect storm at the Data Council meeting

Is the EU helping or hindering AI development in Europe? This was a question that TechSverige's Data Council had reason to ponder when Carolina Brånby (left in the picture), lawyer and policy manager at the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, visited the Council. The proposed rules for AI can create predictability for businesses and increase trust in the new technology. There are also risks. If the regulatory framework becomes too extensive, disproportionate and difficult to apply - as it seems to be in some parts - the development of AI and European competitiveness will be hampered.

Johan Sjöberg (right), Security and Defense Policy Advisor, Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, spoke about the perfect storm threatening Swedish business in terms of Russia's attack on Ukraine, domestic crime, energy crisis and climate crisis - the list could be quite long.

Swedish total defense planning has now resumed in earnest. According to Johan Sjöberg, it is important that the business community is involved on a voluntary basis, through procurement and agreements - and not through mandatory legislation. It is also important that the state is clear in its needs analysis, direction and management of total defense if the business community is to contribute effectively.

This was Mikael Eklund's (center) last meeting as chairman of the Data Council and he was thanked for his many years of service to TechSverige and the Data Council, after having been able to pass this year's business plan, which highlighted information and cyber security issues.

Fredrik Sand
Industrial policy expert