AI development soars, Sweden plummets
Sweden drops a full seven places in the latest Global AI Index and is now in 25th place out of 83 countries. The weakest point is precisely what the government has a major responsibility for: Government Strategy.
Minister for Energy and Business Affairs Ebba Busch (KD) joined the UN in New York and adopted the Global Digital Compact (GDC). "There is a broad view of digital issues from the UN, including AI. International cooperation and AI issues are urgent. Here the EU and Sweden must be a strong voice. Although the AI part, and its importance, may have been given too much space in the reporting, it is welcome. The GDC document is 16 pages long and AI is the last of five goals. So possibly importance is oversold by those involved, but the UN is proposed to take on the issue with a scientific panel and a global dialog on governance of AI is to be started. TechSverige developed an industry code for the use of AI starting in 2019 and already in the first version it was based on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
"For a long time, even before the AI Regulation was adopted, we have advocated the importance of developing a progressive and innovation-friendly interpretation policy in Sweden. "
The situation is more urgent at home. The EU's AI regulation has already come into force, but now the government has decided on an investigation. The press release from Minister for Civil Affairs Slottner (KD) states that by aligning national rules with the AI Regulation, "the government aims to promote innovation and growth through the use of AI, especially for smaller actors in the private and public sectors". For a long time, even before the AI Regulation was adopted, we have advocated the importance of developing a progressive and innovation-friendly interpretation policy in Sweden. However, this is not directly reflected in the directive to the investigator, which does not mention growth, among other things. In essence, however, it is good that the government is starting work on creating the conditions for AI in Sweden. The investigator is to submit his proposals by 30 September 2025. In the short term, however, this means continued uncertainty about the rules for AI in Sweden, such as responsible authorities, regulatory sandboxes and innovation promotion mechanisms. If this were not serious enough, Sweden's international AI ranking would plummet, proving once again that slowness is not a success factor.
In the latest Global AI Index, Sweden drops seven places and is now in 25th place out of 83 countries. The weakest point is precisely what the government has a major responsibility for: Government Strategy. Here, Sweden is ranked 57th, just behind Vietnam. Among the 25 highest ranked countries, only two are ranked lower than Sweden. One thing is certain - many eyes will be on Carl-Henric Svanberg's AI Commission and the proposals they present, and we cannot emphasize enough the importance of concreteness in the way forward so that Swedish competitiveness is not compromised.
Peter Kjäll
Business policy expert, TechSverige
Fredrik Sand
Business policy expert, TechSverige