Tilde Skånvik, Legal Counsel and Compliance Officer was one of the speakers. Tilde’s presentation focused on the AI Act, emphasizing the need for regulation to protect human rights, ensure safety, and promote innovation. She outlined the scope of the Act, its risk-based approach, prohibited AI uses, and the obligations of providers and employers, particularly concerning high-risk AI systems. She stressed the importance of balancing innovation with ethical safeguards.

We also heard from Stefan Wedin, MLOps Program Lead and Principal AI Engineer, who provided a counterbalance, emphasizing the risks of overregulation. He argued that innovation should be encouraged, cautioning against stifling technological progress in Europe, and stressed the need for thoughtful, balanced regulation that fosters innovation without hindering competitiveness.

Afterwards, The Competence Strategy Forum discussed the importance of regulating AI while ensuring innovation isn’t stifled. Participants explored the challenges and opportunities in adopting AI within organizations, with a focus on navigating compliance with GDPR and the upcoming AI Act. There was a strong emphasis on the need for employees to develop critical thinking skills and increase their competence to keep pace with AI-driven changes.

The conversation also touched on the potential business opportunities in helping organizations, especially SMEs, manage AI compliance. Participants agreed on the value of creating internal networks to share AI knowledge and build collaborative platforms for awareness and training. The need to balance innovation and regulation, particularly around data privacy and ethical AI use was a recurring theme.

The next Competence Strategy Forum will take place on December 6th, themed “AI and Its Effect on Jobs.” More information will be shared soon.