The event was organised as part of our project AURA. As a five-year initiative, AURA focuses on strengthening the responsible development and use of AI in Central Norway by combining research on safe and trustworthy systems with education, competence building and close collaboration with regional businesses.

At the core of this effort is our innovation hub, designed as a platform for sustained exchange between academia and industry. Through workshops, events and co-creation activities, it enables organisations to engage with AI not in isolation, but as part of a broader ecosystem of shared learning. The strong participation and notably lively discussions at this first event suggest that such a platform meets a real and growing need.

This became particularly evident during the roundtable sessions, where participants rotated between discussions on explainable AI, safety and security, risks and barriers, and opportunities and best practices. While technical risks were part of the conversation, a more pressing concern emerged: many of the current challenges do not stem from system failure, but from uncertainty around integration. How should AI be incorporated into existing practices? What does it mean to adapt business models and day-to-day operations in a meaningful way? And how can organisations move from experimentation to a coherent, sustainable strategy?

Closely linked to this were questions about people. Participants reflected on how AI-driven productivity gains might reshape expectations in the workplace, potentially introducing new forms of pressure rather than simply reducing workloads. At the same time, there was a clear awareness that long-term success depends on investing in skills and talent, raising questions about how organisations can attract, develop and retain the competencies needed in an AI-enabled future.

Findings from AURA’s annual regional survey reinforce these concerns. Among 172 organisations across Central Norway, nearly nine out of ten report that they are already using AI in some form. Yet only around half have discussed AI-related risks, and a notable share have not established a formal strategy for its implementation. This points to a widening gap: while adoption is accelerating, the organisational frameworks required to support it are still taking shape.