Some days it feels impossible to keep up. Fresh AI tools, fast-moving frameworks, and bold promises seem to appear almost daily. And I think many of us feel more afraid of not using new technology than of using it wrongly. That’s a strange place to be.
The game feels different, but the goals aren’t. We still care about value, efficiency, and safety - the tools just give us new ways to get there.
When we’re implementing solutions or looking to create value, I believe it’s important to keep a few things front of mind:
1. What problem are we actually solving? If we can’t answer this clearly, the solution will never land.
2. Will the value outweigh the cost? Not just money, but also time, energy, and focus.
3. Are we staying secure and compliant? Innovation shouldn’t come at the expense of trust or safety.
4. Do we understand the “why” before the “how”? Without purpose, even the best technology won’t deliver.
If we lose sight of these, we risk chasing technology for its own sake. That’s when projects stall, resources are wasted, and employees lose motivation. But if we keep them in mind, the opportunities are enormous. AI can help us filter billions of records into a few insights that matter. It can help us make decisions faster, with more precision. It can take care of the repetitive work so people can focus on value creation. And yes, it can even help us think strategically. In that sense, maybe the game has changed.
That’s why I’m looking forward to this year’s #MakeDataSmart. It’s not just about new tools, but about asking the right questions. Karianne Tung will set the stage on Norway’s digital ambitions. Jan Roar Beckstrøm will share why leaders must dare trial and error if they want to innovate. Arv Håkon Breistøl will show how solutions can scale even across 13 rival banks under strict security. Faysal Ahmed Dhali-Lund will challenge what it really means to be data-driven. And Kari Nordholm and Camilla Balestrand Klemetsen from PST will take on the bigger question of how AI can be used for the greater good of society.
What I find inspiring is that these voices come at the challenge from different directions, but they’re all circling the same core questions: How do we make AI trustworthy? How do we turn overwhelming amounts of data into insights that actually matter? How do we let people use these tools while still staying in control?
That’s the conversation I think more of us need to have. Because technology might be moving faster than ever, but the responsibility to use it wisely, and to create real value, remains the same.
