2024-11-13
Civil Affairs Minister Slottner: Digitalisation Cuts Costs and Strengthens Swedish Welfare
The role of digitalization in the public sector has never been more pivotal, according to Civil Affairs Minister Erik Slottner (Christian Democrats). He argues that smart digital investments can not only save money but also improve service quality for citizens.
– Through digital investments, we can lower ongoing costs. When these investments generate savings, they pave the way for further initiatives in digital solutions, says Slottner.
Despite Sweden’s prominent position in digital infrastructure — a pioneer in 4G and now advancing in 5G — Slottner acknowledges that still to overcome, especially in the public sector. To fully harness the potential of digitalization, he suggests, uncertainties surrounding legal frameworks must be reduced.
To address these challenges, the government recently tasked the Swedish Authority for Privacy Protection (IMY) and the Agency for Digital Government (Digg) with developing guidelines to facilitate the use of generative AI within the public sector. Concurrently, the state has introduced an efficiency mandate for government agencies to keep costs down.
– AI has the potential to improve public sector efficiency, enhance citizen benefits, and elevate welfare quality. Potential applications include decision support in various processes, masking confidential data, compiling medical records, and analyzing images in healthcare, Slottner explains.
Digitalization also presents an opportunity for greater sustainability, but this requires a stable and fossil-free electricity supply to meet the increased energy demand. Slottner emphasizes that investments in nuclear power, among other sources, are essential to enable continued digitalization without exacerbating environmental impact.
– Digitalization offers substantial opportunities to become more sustainable. For instance, with AI, we can optimize energy use and make agriculture more efficient, reducing our environmental footprint, Slottner concludes.
Erik Slottner is featured on episode 282 of the Digital Influencer Podcast, to be released on 14 November.