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Sweden’s CEOs appear to be rather skeptical of AI in the workplace, compared to their international colleagues. PwC’s 27th Annual Global CEO Survey found that only 18% of surveyed Swedish CEOs have integrated AI into their business operations. Globally, 32% of CEOs indicated that AI was in some manner a part of their daily processes.
Another question where Sweden showed a significant diversion regarded whether or not employees would need to develop new skills to meet the AI challenge. In Sweden, less than 50% agreed with that statement. Globally, 70% of respondents answered in the affirmative.
Other questions in the survey showed similar discrepancies between Swedish and global CEOs. For example, 56% of Swedish CEOs believe that AI will increase workplace efficiency. That number is 64% globally. 26% of Swedish CEOs believe AI will lead to increased profitability. That number is 41% globally. And 40% of Swedish CEOs believe AI will raise the quality of their products and services in the next year. 60% of the total number of CEOs answered yes to that question.
In its press release, PWC speculates that the reason for hesitation is that the focus in Sweden is more on AI’s risks than on its possibilities. Another reason, PWC writes, may be the lack of clear guidelines on how to use AI in a responsible manner.
Nervous?
AI’s disruption of standard models of business practice has made CEOs nervous the world over. 45% believed their business would not survive the next ten years if they continued on their current path. The megatrends of AI and climate change, PWC writes, makes business reinvention imperative.