Who bears the responsibility when AI makes mistakes at work?
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly common in Swedish workplaces, but the technology brings new challenges with it. A new survey shows that when AI systems make mistakes or act in an unexpected way, it is rarely the legal departments that take responsibility.
According to the report, only 6 percent of respondents say that managers within legal or compliance departments take responsibility when an AI agent acts on its own. Instead, the responsibility often falls on the IT manager, also known as the CIO (Chief Information Officer).
This creates a difficult situation for many IT managers. Because AI systems are complex and sometimes difficult to predict, technical errors are almost inevitable. When systems do not function as expected, the IT manager is expected to solve the problem and be held accountable to company management.
Experts believe that companies need clearer guidelines on how to manage the risks associated with AI. It is not enough to simply introduce new technology; there is also a need for a discussion about who bears the legal and ethical responsibility when the technology makes its own decisions.
The question of responsibility is likely to become even more important as AI tools gain more influence in Swedish companies. To create a secure work environment, the issue of responsibility needs to be lifted from the IT department and shared by the entire organization.