Entrepreneur, investor and AI strategist Mikko Alasaarela took the SHIFT stage to ask bold questions: What does it truly mean to be AI-native? And how can leaders prepare their organizations for a future where artificial intelligence is not just a tool, but a foundational principle?

– If we can make the leap in AI happen in Finland, we could become the world leader in productivity – but only if we adopt this technology faster than our peers in other countries. At the moment, most Finnish people don’t use AI in their work at all, and those who do, only use it for fairly menial tasks. What we need is a change in the ways of thinking, Alasaarela paints.

Mikko drew from his experience building seven tech companies across Finland, Germany, and the US – ventures that have raised over $30 million and created jobs for more than 700 people. As a globally recognized expert in algorithmic influence and author of The Servant Influencer, he offered not just technical insight but also a human-centered philosophy of innovation.

“Are we ready for the change? How will the internet landscape look in 2029?”

– On the internet, there’s already more bots than humans on the internet. The vast majority of content is already generated by artificial intelligence. Are we ready for the change? How will the internet landscape look in 2029?, Alasaarela asks.

Mikko’s talk was packed with insights and “aha” moments. He challenged traditional leadership thinking and painted a compelling picture of a future, where AI actually makes our work less stressful and more rewarding.

SHIFT was proud to feature Mikko Alasaarela: a visionary speaker who reminded us that AI’s real power lies not just in the technology itself, but in how we choose to use it.