– We built our own system – E24

A recent member survey from Virke shows clear differences in what small and large companies think about AI.

While more than half of large companies are more excited than concerned about AI, this is true for only 17% of small businesses.

Consulting firm Bryn Aarflot, a mid-sized company with 65 employees, views the new technology primarily favorably.

-But we keep two ideas in our heads at the same time and we see the challenges clearly as well. There are a lot of people today who are worried, and they are right, says partner Sebastian Stegar.

He leads the AI ​​business at Bryn Aarflot. It has become a clear commitment to the company, assisting with matters relating to topics such as patents, trademarks and copyrights.

– We've been working on this in one form or another since ChatGPT hit the market a little over a year ago.

Stand back on the platform

A relatively large proportion of Norwegian companies now indicate that they believe AI will be important for future growth and competitiveness, says senior analyst Runar Wiksnes at VIRK.

Meanwhile, one in three respond that they have an unmet need for ICT skills. Below that, once again, the field of artificial intelligence reaches its peak.

Wixnes links this lack of experience to concerns reported by many small businesses.

-You see that something will be important, but you don't have the resources to start it yet. At this point, it's easy to understand that small businesses feel left out.

The consolation is that development is so rapid, he says.

– Eventually, there will be adapted tools that are easier to use and require fewer internal development environments.

– At the same time, there is no shame in being early, adds the senior analyst.

Runar Wixness

Built by myself

This is what Brain Arflot invested in.

Last year, they decided to devote significant resources to research and development – and create their own solutions.

“We built our own system using generative AI, which we hope will make us better and more efficient,” Stegar says.

For competitive reasons, he doesn't want to delve into what the system entails.

We have no doubt that generative AI brings tremendous opportunities. But if you look at open systems and providers, there are challenges around confidentiality, copyright, and privacy. This is one of the reasons we built our own system with Frend.

It required investments.

– I understand that a lot of people find this difficult. We have decided, after extensive evaluations, that this is the right thing to do in order to control our data.

Big upside

At BrainArflot, approximately half of the advisors are lawyers, while the other half have a technical background.

Wixens in Virk believes that such professions, with high demands for competence, will be enhanced – not replaced – by artificial intelligence. Stigar supports this analysis.

– In our industry, I believe that the efficiency and requirements of deliveries will increase. He says: I believe that more people will have access to legal services, and that they will be better and more comprehensive.

Wixnes points out that there are two main ways in which technology can be used.

– The first is what you can do today, which can be done by artificial intelligence. Then there's what you can do now that you couldn't do before. It will create added value, and this is where the big upside lies.