Sonja Yilmaz attended Stockholm Tech Show 2026 in Stockholm on behalf of FirstQFM, joining companies, speakers, and technology professionals from across the Nordic tech ecosystem.
The event brought together organizations working across AI, cybersecurity, robotics, automation, smart cities, and emerging technologies, with a strong focus on how AI is being applied in practice.
One of the presentations was given by Dr. David Barnes and focused on the gap between AI ambition and operational reality. His talk highlighted that AI projects rarely fail because the model itself is poor. More often, they fail because organizations lack clear direction, ownership, governance, operational readiness, and user trust.
A key message from the presentation was that successful AI adoption depends on more than technical performance. AI systems need to be connected to real workflows, accountable decision-making, clear leadership intent, practical controls, and users who understand when to trust, question, override, or stop a system.
The presentation also emphasized the difference between a successful pilot and full operational capability. A pilot can show what might work, but real value is created only when AI is integrated into daily operations, supported by governance, accepted by users, and able to perform under realistic conditions.
For FirstQFM, Stockholm Tech Show was an opportunity to follow how organizations are approaching applied AI, meet people across the technology community, and take part in conversations around how intelligent systems can move from experimentation to reliable real-world use.
