AI race in government?
Even for those who can only briefly analyze the steady stream of press releases coming from the Government Offices and other news outlets, it is clear that there is something of an AI race going on in the government.
Minister for Energy and Business Affairs Ebba Busch (KD), who has been on an international training camp in the US and gave a strong speech, played doubles with party colleague Erik Slottner and told us about a new AI assignment. The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth is to investigate how AI can be used in regulatory simplification work. It is probably needed. Many human ministers and officials seem to have missed the point over the years.
The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth will now produce a knowledge base and investigate how government agencies can use AI to, for example, identify double regulation, technology lock-in and to investigate the consequences of new legislation for businesses. The assignment will also highlight good examples from other countries.
Busch then switched partners and , together with Minister for Development Cooperation and Trade Benjamin Dousa (M), singled out the AI Act as an obstacle to growth. "When it comes to the AI Act, Sweden will do the bare minimum," said Busch. "That's excellent. TechSverige has pointed out the importance of low compliance costs when it comes to AI in Sweden. Dousa also seems to have dropped the corner flag. From failing to mention digitization in a major speech to business representatives, he now talks about important issues such as infrastructure and skills supply for AI, among others.
Let's hope that the indoor training at the department continues and that the government is not just waiting for the consultation responses.
Then there's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) who perhaps peaked too early with his high-level training camp in Paris, in the form of the AI Action Summit, where he was clear. In a later keynote speech to an international audience, it was more about highlightinghistorical successes for Sweden and what they might mean for the future investment climate. Tech and digitalization were there, but not emphatically. More of a friendly match than a top battle.
It is actually fantastic that several leading ministers are involved in the AI issues.
It's a bit sad then that Slottner, kindly but firmly, in a letter declined TechSverige's proposal to let the AI Commission sprint the last few months of its remaining time and produce more detailed proposals. A bit of a walkover. Then he sent the AI Commission report on reply to public consultation for several months. Let's hope that the indoor training at the ministry continues and that the government is not just waiting for the consultation responses. There is much else to do.
Slottner has certainly already taken some initiatives, but now the AI competition in government is heating up. Everyone wants to be on the field. The supporters in the form of TechSverige andthe DI crowd in the stands are demanding a Task Force - now. All in all, this bodes well for the next season of Swedish AI policy, when it really is a battle against the clock to get the right conditions for AI in Sweden.
Fredrik Sand
Business policy expert