Telenor's Kaaren Hilsen on Launching Norway’s First AI Factory - Ep. 247
Feb 27, 2025
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Kaaren Hilsen, Telenor's Chief Innovation Officer and head of the AI Factory, shares insights on Norway's first AI factory, which prioritizes data sovereignty and sustainability. She discusses the challenges of establishing this innovative hub and highlights Telenor's commitment to green computing, including renewable energy-driven data centers. Hilsen emphasizes the importance of responsible AI practices and explores how AI can revolutionize business sustainability while ensuring secure data handling with a focus on fostering agility and collaboration.
Telenor's AI Factory exemplifies a commitment to data sovereignty by processing sensitive data securely within Norway while promoting environmental sustainability.
The factory's innovative approach, resembling a startup, focuses on agile development and tailored solutions to meet specific business needs efficiently.
Deep dives
Launch of Telenor AI Factory
The Telenor AI Factory, launched in late 2024, is Norway's first sustainable and secure generative AI cloud service aimed at promoting AI adoption for both internal operations and external customers. This initiative arose from a vision of ensuring that every country should produce its own intelligence in a responsible manner. The factory's establishment reflects a critical response to the increasing demand for AI while simultaneously addressing the environmental impact of data centers, which have emissions comparable to the airline industry. By creating local AI computing capabilities, Telenor aims to empower both businesses and public sectors in the Nordic region with enhanced secure and sustainable AI solutions.
Building the AI Factory
The journey to establish the AI Factory began with an executive mandate from Telenor leaders to develop a green AI factory, not without challenges such as securing funding and navigating corporate governance. To overcome bureaucratic hurdles, the team adopted a startup mindset, swiftly assembling a new legal entity and operational framework that encouraged agility and responsiveness. They engaged early with customers to refine their offering, setting a goal to acquire both internal and external clients concurrently, which led to Hive Autonomy becoming the first external customer. This approach enabled the team to learn and iterate on their AI solutions quickly, prioritizing progress over perfection.
Use Cases and Customer Insights
Current use cases at the Telenor AI Factory focus on delivering solutions tailored to specific business needs rather than generic capabilities, with external customers like Hive Autonomy and Capgemini tackling logistics efficiency and sensitive data security, respectively. Customers are particularly interested in the factory's secure, sovereign environment in Norway, ensuring their data remains protected while leveraging advanced AI capabilities. As organizations increasingly prioritize responsible AI and data sovereignty, the Telenor AI Factory is positioned to meet these evolving demands by providing a trusted platform for innovation. Looking ahead, the factory aims to scale its offerings, supporting a range of industries in addressing complex problems while maintaining a commitment to sustainability.
Telenor’s Chief Innovation Officer and Head of the AI Factory, Kaaren Hilsen, discusses Norway’s first AI factory. Opened in November, the facility processes sensitive data securely within Norway, ensuring data sovereignty and environmental sustainability. Learn how Telenor’s green computing initiatives, including a renewable energy-powered data center in Oslo, are advancing responsible and sustainable AI.
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