AI Worries: What Nordic Business Leaders are concerned about
At the AI & Leadership event hosted by Hannes Snellman and Nordic Listed Leaders on June 12, 2025, one message was unmistakable: while artificial intelligence holds enormous potential, it also raises complex, pressing concerns for business leaders.
From legal uncertainty and ethical dilemmas to talent readiness and cultural resistance, the discussion surfaced the most urgent fears facing Nordic executives today. Below, we break down the top concerns raised, and what forward-looking companies must do to lead through them with clarity and confidence.
The panel: Katariina Telkkä, Tomi Kolu, Minna Frände & Jesper Nevalainen
Legal and ethical uncertainty
Executives raised concerns over the legal frameworks governing AI, particularly around data protection, executive liability, and compliance under the EU’s AI Act. As global legislation continues to evolve, many companies feel paralyzed, unsure how to adopt AI without exposure to reputational or legal risk.
“You can’t just stay in defense mode forever,” said Maria Aholainen from Hannes Snellman
“Boards need to ask: what level of risk are we willing to take, and then lead accordingly.”
At the same time, Jesper Nevalainen, Partner at Hannes Snellman, called for courage, not paralysis:
“These questions are real, but let’s not let fear block progress. Responsible leadership means moving forward with structure and responsibly, not standing still.”
Lack of resources and readiness
Many leaders admitted that their organizations are not yet equipped to scale AI in a meaningful or sustainable way. The concern isn’t just about having the right tools, it’s about having the right people, culture, and capabilities.
Without structured training and internal alignment, AI pilots risk becoming isolated experiments difficult to scale and easy to misunderstand.
“Training isn’t optional, it’s essential,” said Tomi Kolu from Adecco.
“If you want to future-proof your organization, start by future-proofing your people.”
The Adecco Group’s Business Leaders Research 2025: Leading in the age of AI: Expectations versus reality supports this disconnect between expectations and reality. While 60% of leaders expect employees to adapt to AI, 34% of companies still lack a formal AI policy or training framework. Even in organizations that offer support, only 25% of employees say they’ve received practical guidance on using AI in their daily work.
The message is clear: organizations must close this capability gap, or risk falling behind.
Workforce displacement and role shifts
AI anxiety isn’t limited to tech and legal teams. Leaders voiced fears about job displacement and resistance within their ranks. Still, the panel remained calm on this front.
“I definitely don’t worry about jobs disappearing. But they will change for sure,” noted Jesper Nevalainen from Hannes Snellman.
“AI will create opportunities. The question is: are we ready to reshape how we work?”
Katariina Telkkä, CMO at Heeros, added a practical lens:
“We’ve already seen tangible savings and efficiency from AI within our marketing team. It’s not theoretical, it’s real.”
Change management and cultural resistance
Despite recognizing AI’s potential, some executives in the event described a reluctance to change within their organizations. Existing business processes are often seen as “good enough,” which makes it difficult to motivate teams to pursue more transformative ways of working.
The Adecco Group’s 2025 research supports this reality, identifying internal resistance to change as one of the leading barriers to digital transformation. Other key obstacles include lack of executive understanding and unclear return on investment. Notably, only 10% of companies in the study were classified as future-ready, a designation closely linked to cultural adaptability and willingness to evolve.
Some leaders also expressed concern that European regulatory frameworks, though designed for safety and fairness, could inadvertently slow down Nordic innovation compared to more flexible markets like the U.S. or Asia.
Ultimately, successful AI adoption isn’t just about tools and technologies. It requires a culture that’s ready to let go of legacy mindsets and embrace new ways of thinking and working.
Information overload and control
The panel also acknowledged a growing concern: the flood of AI-generated content, from emails and reports to social media and synthetic communication, is beginning to blur the line between signal and noise. As the volume of digital output increases, leaders risk losing focus, clarity, and the ability to think strategically.
This worry echoed recent remarks by Esko Aho at the Nordic Listed Leaders’ Future Leaders event, where he warned that executives are becoming increasingly reactive.
In an era dominated by social media noise, breaking news, and the demand for instant reactions, Aho encouraged the leaders to “look more to the future, and also to history.” The constant barrage of messages leaves little room for strategic thinking or reflection. But great leadership, he argued, requires stepping out of the noise and daring to think long-term. It means not only envisioning future scenarios but also learning from the past to lead with wisdom and foresight.
Final thought: It's time to lead
The event made one thing clear: AI isn’t just a technological shift, it’s a leadership test. Legal frameworks, training programs, and toolkits are important, but none of them work without leadership-level engagement, executive ownership, and cultural clarity.
With strong ethical foundations, an innovation-driven culture, and high societal trust, Nordic companies are well-positioned to lead in AI, if they shift from cautious pilots to action.
As PwC’s recent global study reminds us, artificial intelligence could increase the global economy by up to 15% by 2035, but only if it’s adopted widely and responsibly.
Now is the moment to step forward. Not just to keep up, but to shape the future.
