Wise decision making and visionary leadership are, simply put, always the cornerstone of any successful business. But in a new digital era with artificial intelligence (AI), we are facing a revolution that challenges our traditional perception of leadership, gives us plenty of new opportunities and tests our strategic understanding of technology on a whole new level.

AI has taken society by storm, and it is now up to us as leaders to shape and lead this powerful technological development in a way that will define our businesses, the public sector, and other organizations for decades to come.

It is leadership that requires courage to decide when to be a “first mover” or a “fast follower”. Or “no follower” at all. It is leadership on new terms compared to what was possible yesterday and the day before.

It is leadership in a new age with AI as an innovative, intelligent tool, as a decision support tool, product developer, digital assistant, and practical helper in routine work, that we would like to explore in VL with the Annual Theme focus on AI.

There is a surplus of conferences, courses, and reports on artificial intelligence and how the new technologies will transform our society. Our focus in VL is leadership. How do we lead the new transformed reality and find the new potentials?

The Inevitable Development

AI is no longer a futuristic fantasy. It is a reality that is already deeply embedded in many of our daily operations in all sectors of society. From customer interactions to data-driven decisions, AI has proven to be an invaluable partner in our search for competitive advantages, good customer and citizen experiences and the development of new products and services. But the new era requires a new approach to leadership.

In an AI-driven world, leadership is no longer limited to traditional hierarchies and top-down decisions. It requires an understanding of how to utilize technology to optimize processes and create value. It requires an understanding of the fact that algorithms and technologies not only work for us but together with us. Side by side with us. If we want to be in control, we have to understand what it is all about.

It is important to understand that the implementation of AI is not only a technical challenge, but also an organizational and cultural challenge. Successful AI implementation requires the business or organization to be able to adapt to the new opportunities and challenges that the technology brings. It requires leadership, commitment, strategic technological understanding, and a holistic approach to change throughout the organization.

​​It is all about embracing the technologies and using them as a tool to create added value and innovation. As leaders, we now have the opportunity to shape the future of our companies, develop our organizations to a new era with the same scale of potential as the industrialization. We have the opportunity to create a sustainable competitive advantage in businesses and to create a public sector suitable for the tasks of a modern welfare society. It requires courage, knowledge, and willingness as a leader to take the leap into the exciting world of AI.

By Lisbeth Knudsen, Board Chair, VL