Elin Hauge | On benefits from bruises, and the cost of being wrong | Episode #74

In this episode, Lasse Rindom speaks with Elin Hauge - board member, strategist, AI advisor, kickboxer, and part-time law student - about the messy truth behind AI adoption. Their conversation navigates the sharp edges between math, language, risk, and responsibility:

• Why understanding the cost of being wrong is central to responsible AI adoption - especially when decisions affect real people
• How the confusion matrix reveals the hidden risks leaders rarely factor in
• What generative AI really does (and doesn’t do) when it comes to language, meaning, and truth
• Why pragmatism - not hype - should guide how companies deploy AI, and why most boards are still unprepared
• And yes, how full-contact kickboxing might be the perfect metaphor for tech strategy

A conversation packed with edge, insight, and just the right amount of bruising honesty.

Do you want to know more about Elin Hauge?

Elin has built bridges between data-fuelled technologies and business value for more than 20 years. Through her collaborations with business leaders and tech entrepreneurs, she has developed an exceptional ability to connect business strategy with the application of data-driven technologies, including artificial intelligence. She brings novel perspectives to familiar challenges, persistently demystifying jargon and buzzwords, and consistently remains ahead of the curve with her insights into societal implications, sustainability, regulation, security, and geopolitics.

She approaches her perspectives with a humorous, down-to-earth, and pragmatic mindset, focusing on what is feasible now, what is responsible in both corporate and societal contexts, and what leaders need to understand about data and algorithms to make informed decisions. She then adopts a futurist perspective, looking ahead to potential scenarios and future outcomes, challenging established beliefs and viewpoints.

Her strong and engaging stage presence and her unique ability to tailor her communication style and narrative to specific audiences is highly regarded by her clients and audiences. As a moderator, she adopts a dependable, grounded, and professional approach to clients' needs. Her extensive speaking experience enables her to provide valuable support to clients and speaker line-ups in their preparations, content development, and delivery. She is particularly adept at crafting engaging narratives, infusing scripts with her personal expertise to create a natural and captivating experience. Elin excels at fostering a relaxed yet professional atmosphere, ensuring all participants feel at ease while maintaining high standards. Her collaborative approach, combined with her creative energy and ideas, enhances the flow and impact of events, making her a highly recommended choice for professional events.

Through systematic incorporation of the human perspective, she emphasizes that "it is up to us – the humans – to design the future of technology to be human-more, not human-less." In her talks, she provides tangible and well-grounded recommendations on how to derive real benefits from data-driven technologies, mitigate risks, comply with regulations, and consolidate and leverage data as a valuable business asset.

Acadmically, she holds an MEng in Biophysics and Medical Technology from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and an MSc in Management Science and Operational Research from Warwick Business School. Recently, she has also commenced law studies to further enhance her ability to connect responsible and accountable business practices with regulatory frameworks. Her strong academic foundation in mathematics and physics, combined with extensive business experience, provides a solid basis for her perspectives on the revolutionary opportunities and complex challenges associated with artificial intelligence and other data-driven technologies.

She also holds several non-executive board positions, serving as chair for the majority of these companies.