This perspective was echoed by Conservative Party politician Nikolai Astrup during a panel at AI WEEK 2025 at Aker Tech House—powered by Antire. Paraphrasing his remarks: Leaders who don’t adopt AI now risk falling behind. AI is no longer a future technology—it’s a strategic lever for efficiency, insight, and growth.

But AI is only as powerful as the people who use it. As former Cognite CEO John Markus Lervik once said, “Speed is not a replacement for direction.” To succeed with AI, you need a clear plan, a long-term strategy, and the right conditions to unlock its full potential. And you need to get started to learn and adapt! 
Before we dive into the seven key takeaways from AI WEEK 2025, let’s set the scene.

A week of AI—from vision to action

AI WEEK 2025 was a full work week dedicated to exploring AI’s impact across industries, sustainability, and society. Thousands joined in person and online from Aker Tech House at Fornebu, just outside Oslo.

The speaker lineup brought together global leaders in AI—from Oracle, Nvidia, Microsoft, Google, AWS, Snowflake, and IBM to Cognite, UN representatives, investors, policymakers, and industry experts.

Each day of the week tackled a core theme:

Monday – AI for Good: Ocean Day
How AI can support the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Tuesday – AI Computing Forum + Open AI Factory Day
How to build the AI solutions of the future.

Wednesday – AI Venture Forum
How to invest in next-generation AI.

Thursday – AI Future Forum
How AI agents are reshaping tomorrow’s businesses.

Friday – Agentic Masterclasses
Learn how to build AI agents straight from the experts.

Norwegian leadership in AI: Shared ambition, different views

One of the standout moments was the panel Norway as a Future AI Nation, moderated by Nicolai Halbo, Partner at Simonsen Vogt Wiig. Participants included:

• Karianne Tung, Minister of Digitalisation & Public Governance (Labour Party)
• Nikolai Astrup, Member of Parliament (Conservative Party)
• Birger Steen, CEO, NORSAR
• Eli Haugerud, Head of Industries, Bærum Municipality
• Yngvar Ugland, EVP, New Tech Lab, DNB

The panelists agreed on AI’s strategic importance for both the private and public sectors. But they held different views on how prepared Norway is today.  
The potential is there, “Norway can lead in AI—just like we lead in chess, golf, and football,” the panel assumed.

But to realize it, the right conditions must be in place. That means investing in the right competencies. As Karianne Tung asked, “We spend a lot on education—but are institutions using that funding to meet society’s evolving needs?”  

Yngvar Ugland, EVP of New Tech Lab at DNB, added, “We also need to reskill the workforce. Every job will be influenced by AI.”  

Nikolai Astrup pointed to Norway’s advantage: “Because Norway is a high-cost country, businesses have already invested heavily in tech. The same goes for the public sector. Our digital tax system is one example—we’re already ahead in some areas of digital governance.”

Here are seven key takeaways from AI WEEK 2025 

1. AI is a strategic imperative

To stay competitive, businesses and governments must treat AI as more than a buzzword. It requires a strategic approach—with clear goals, defined resources, and a roadmap for integrating AI into core operations. Leaders must combine rapid innovation with intentional direction to create real, lasting value.

2. AI can drive sustainable impact

From ocean health to resource management, AI is already solving real-world challenges. Monday’s sessions highlighted how AI supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG #14—Life Below Water. By using AI to analyze and manage marine ecosystems, Norway can lead in sustainable innovation.

3. Innovation thrives in the right ecosystem

Norway’s potential to become a global AI hub depends on nurturing startups, enabling scale-ups, and encouraging cross-sector collaboration. Speakers emphasized the need for investment, strong academic partnerships, and a culture that rewards experimentation and bold thinking.

4. Agentic systems are the future

AI is evolving toward agentic systems—intelligent agents capable of making autonomous decisions and handling complex tasks. The rise of multimodal AI (combining visual, textual, and auditory data) offers new possibilities for advanced applications. Norwegian leaders must stay ahead of this curve.

5. Education is the engine

None of this is possible without people. The shift to AI-first organizations demands continuous upskilling and reskilling. Institutions, companies, and policymakers must work together to redesign education and training programs that prepare today’s—and tomorrow’s—workforce for AI-powered roles. And, you should not wait. You have to start to be and stay in the game.

6. Trust as Norway's advantage

Trust is a distinct advantage for Norway, deeply embedded in its societal fabric. High levels of trust toward the government, public sector, and businesses foster collaboration, transparency, and efficient adoption of new technologies, making Norway uniquely positioned to successfully implement and scale AI.

7. Stable framework conditions

Norway provides good, stable framework conditions and incentives that significantly enhance the business environment. These conditions offer predictability and support necessary for innovation and the sustainable growth of AI-driven enterprises.

In summary, AI WEEK 2025 made one thing clear: Artificial intelligence is no longer a future vision—it’s a strategic enabler for businesses, governments, and society at large. Norway is uniquely positioned to lead on the global stage, thanks to its technological edge and strong institutional trust. But seizing that opportunity takes more than optimism—it requires clear direction, cross-sector collaboration, and a long-term commitment to education, innovation, and people. 

At Antire, we believe technology is most powerful when it empowers people. Want to talk AI with us? Book a meeting to discuss how our expanded AI expertise can create value for your business.