More than 600 people from over 120 companies and organizations have participated in the AI Lift program in Dalarna. A follow-up study is now beginning to provide insight into what happens after the training. Knowledge is growing, and for many, generative AI has become a regular tool in their daily work.
It’s easy to talk about AI. What’s harder is making the technology actually useful on the job. That’s where “AI Lyftet” comes in—Dalarna Science Park’s free workshop series where, over the course of three sessions, participants get to learn about generative AI, test the tools, and find ways to use them in their own work.
Since its inception, more than 600 people from over 120 companies and organizations have participated throughout Dalarna. But just as interesting as the question of how many people have participated is what happens afterward. Does the knowledge carried back to the workplace?
Knowledge That Is Actually Put to Use
A follow-up survey of participants who completed the AI Lift program four to six months earlier shows a clear shift among the respondents. 98 percent believe their knowledge of generative AI is greater than it was before the training. 80 percent use generative AI at least a few times a week.
These tools are used for tasks such as text editing, brainstorming, summarizing, proofreading, and meeting preparation. For many people, AI has thus evolved from something they’re curious about and try out to a tool they use regularly in their daily work.
When asked to describe the positive benefits, 67 percent of participants said that AI has provided inspiration and new ideas. 53 percent feel more confident when performing certain tasks, and 49 percent see an improvement in the quality of their work. Only 2 percent said they do not see any clear positive benefits.
From “What is AI?” to “How do we use this?”
Participants’ comments also show that the questions change as knowledge increases. Several are asking for more in-depth content, role-specific workshops, and concrete support for building AI agents. For example, one project manager wants to collaborate with other project managers to develop useful agents for document review, while others are asking for short follow-up meetings to keep pace with developments.
There is also another side to increased AI proficiency. One participant described how the AI initiative contributed both to greater knowledge and to “a higher degree of critical thinking, or perhaps a higher degree of reflection.” In other words, becoming better at AI is not just about using the technology more, but also about understanding when and how it should be used.
Part of Sweden's AI Workshop
The AI Initiative is part of a much larger effort focused on AI in Dalarna. The goal is to position Dalarna as Sweden’s AI hub—a place where AI goes beyond strategies and visions to be tested, implemented, and put to practical use.
Dalarna is gaining momentum thanks to the major investments, advanced technology, and new infrastructure coming to the region. By serving as an AI hub, we contribute to direct benefits: when an entrepreneur finds a better way to organize their work, when a project manager uses AI to manage multiple documents, or when an employee dares to try a new tool and discovers an application that actually works.
More than 600 people have already taken the first step through the AI Lift program. Now the work continues with the next step.
About the AI Initiative
The AI initiative is being carried out as part of the Mighty EDIH and DigiMod projects, which are funded by the European Regional Development Fund as well as Region Dalarna, Region Värmland, and Region Gävleborg.
