News
What the lab has been up to
Publications, media, grants, conferences and people, since the lab was initiated in 2019. The current year is shown; select any earlier year to expand it. For the annual conference and the seminar series, see events.
2026
Aug 14The AIEL Monitor launched, on the lab's own domain and with a rebuilt website: open, dated indicators on AI and work across countries, with Sweden in depth, refreshed from public data. The first issue of the monthly AIEL Monitor Brief went out the same day, on barriers to AI use. The MonitorMonthly brief
Jun 24The paper "Artificial Intelligence for Public Use" (Lodefalk, Engberg, Lidskog, Skargren & Tang) was accepted for publication in Digital Society.
Jun 17A column was published in ProMarket (Stigler Center, Chicago Booth), "AI Is Not Reducing Employment but Rather Who Gets Hired" (Lodefalk, Löthman, Koch & Engberg), drawing on the "Same Storm, Different Boats" paper. ProMarket
Jun 10–11The fourth conference on AI and white-collar work was held at Katrinelund outside Örebro: 27 participants, 12 papers, keynotes by Michael Lechner (St. Gallen) and Christina Gathmann (LISER / Luxembourg). Dates set for the AIEL/AISCAF 2028 conference, 14–15 June 2028.
AprResearch grant from Jan Wallanders och Tom Hedelius Stiftelse, 1 MSEK.
Mar 27ORU working paper released: "Who Adopts AI? Evidence on Firms, Technologies and Workers" (Pulito, Pytlikova, Schroeder & Lodefalk). ORU WP
Mar 16ORU and Ratio working papers released: "Same Storm, Different Boats: Generative AI and the Age Gradient in Hiring" (Lodefalk, Löthman, Koch & Engberg), with an accompanying op-ed with the labour-market partners' AI council in DN. ORU WPRatio WPDN op-ed
Mar 7A one-page summary released of the forthcoming "Same Storm, Different Boats" working paper on AI and workers across age groups. One-pager
JanLodefalk received the Outstanding Research Communication Award from the Hamrin Foundation and Örebro University.
2025
Dec 29Call for papers published for the fourth AIEL conference on AI and White-Collar Work, jointly arranged with the Swedish research cluster AISCAF. Call for papers
Nov 14Lodefalk interviewed on Swedish Public Radio, discussing the new working paper "The Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Jobs: Evidence from an AI Subsidy Program" (with Hellsten, Khanna & Yakymovych), out on ORU, Ratio, IZA and GLO. Sveriges RadioORU WPRatio WPIZA DPGLO DP
OctKyvik-Nordås & Klügl's paper on cross-border data flows and AI uptake accepted for publication in Structural Change and Economic Dynamics.
SepKyvik-Nordås presents "How productivity differences drive trade and technology uptake" (with Klügl) at ETSG (and later at Univ. of Oslo, 9 Nov).
Sep 8New PhD student Lydia Löthman joins the lab, based at Örebro University.
Sep 1The AI-Econ Lab became part of, and via Örebro University a node for, the new Swedish research cluster on AI, Structural Change and the Future of Work (AISCAF), funded by WASP-HS. Five-year financing; other nodes are Uppsala University and Stockholm University. AISCAFWASP-HS
Jul 8Paper published in Research Policy: "Artificial Intelligence, Tasks, Skills and Wages: Worker-Level Evidence from Germany" (Engberg, Koch, Lodefalk & Schroeder). DOI
May 28The AI-Econ Lab became part of the new Center for AI, Robotics and Cybersecurity (ARC) at Örebro University. ARC
May 7Paper published in Applied Economics Letters: "Artificial Intelligence, Hiring and Employment: Job Postings Evidence from Sweden" (Hellsten, Engberg, Javed, Lodefalk, Sabolová, Schroeder & Tang). DOI
May 2A new book (chapter 3 with Kyvik-Nordås) published by OECD/BCG/INSEAD: The Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Firms: New Evidence for Policymaking. OECD report
Apr 30Mark Hellsten successfully defended his PhD thesis in Economics on automation (including AI) and work at Aarhus University, Denmark. Thesis
Apr 3A commissioned report on AI in the public sector (Lodefalk, Engberg & Tang) was launched at the Ministry of Finance, Stockholm, focusing on productivity and labour demand; op-ed in Dagens Industri. ESO reportDI op-ed
Apr 3A new working paper on AI in the public sector released at Örebro University ("Artificial Intelligence for Public Use"; Lodefalk, Engberg, Lidskog & Tang). ORU WP
Feb 5Paper published in Digital Society: "Artificial Intelligence and Worker Stress" (Lodefalk & Koch). Article
Feb 1Professor Michael Lechner joins the lab and Örebro University as a guest professor.
2024
DecFredric Skargren and Monisha Punith join as visiting junior researchers (PhD students at Örebro University and University of Antwerp).
NovKyvik-Nordås reviewed the WTO report "Trading with Intelligence" and sat on a panel at its launch.
Nov 14Kyvik-Nordås participated in an Expert Group meeting at the OECD AI observatory.
Oct 24Kyvik-Nordås on a panel on AI standards organised by the International Technology Industry, at Microsoft's Brussels offices.
Sep 13Kyvik-Nordås presented "Cross-border data flows and AI adoption: agent-based model simulations" at the ETSG conference, Athens.
Aug 19Kyvik-Nordås presented on AI and gender at the APEC meeting, Lima, Peru.
AugLodefalk presented on AI and the labour market at DIGG (Sweden); Kyvik-Nordås presented on AI, trade and jobs at APEC Senior Officials Meetings, Peru.
JunErik Engberg presented on AI and the labour market at Almedalen.
Jun 18New working paper released at Ratio and Örebro University: "Artificial Intelligence and Worker Stress: Evidence from Germany".
Jun 12–13The third AIEL conference on AI and White-Collar Work took place in Örebro, with 20 researchers from multiple countries.
Jun 11Kyvik-Nordås presented the "AI Unboxed" paper at the EUROSHOCK conference, Oslo.
MayErik Engberg invited to present on AI and the labour market at the Ministry of Finance, Sweden.
Apr 8Blog column by Kyvik-Nordås at CEP: "Governing AI for Humanity: Thoughts on the UN AI Advisory Body Interim Report." CEP
Mar 22Opinion piece in Dagens Industri on AI policy, by Lodefalk with Almega, Akavia, the Swedish Association of Graduate Engineers and Ratio. DI op-ed
Mar 15A new lifelong-learning course launched (in Swedish) on AI and the (r)evolution of working life, online, Fall 2024. Course
Mar 6Paper published in Review of International Economics: "Double Whammy? Trade and Automation in Engineering Services" (Klügl & Kyvik-Nordås). DOI
Feb 22Lodefalk in an Akavia podcast, together with the Minister for Public Administration, Sweden, among others. Podcast
Jan 25Lodefalk presented at a Statistics Sweden seminar.
2023
DecTwo new working papers released at Ratio and Örebro University: "AI Unboxed and Jobs" and "AI, Tasks, Skills and Wages".
Dec 7Research (dissemination) grant from Jan Wallanders och Tom Hedelius Stiftelse (Fh23-0069). Grant
Dec 7Lodefalk appointed a government member of an advisory board to the Swedish National Agency for Higher Vocational Education.
NovKyvik-Nordås held a special lecture (with Klügl) at the IFFT conference: "Double Whammy? Trade and Automation in Engineering Services".
Nov 30Engberg presented "AI Unboxed — Firm-Level Evidence from Three Countries" at the SWEGPEC Workshop.
Nov 23Lodefalk presented at the Swedish Society of Medicine, Örebro.
Nov 20–24Michael Koch (Aarhus University) visited the lab.
Nov 16Lodefalk presented at the Swedish Universities and Colleges expert group on business administration.
Nov 15Research grant from Torsten Söderbergs Stiftelse (ET3/23). Announcement
Nov 10Engberg and Lodefalk presented at the Swedish Public Employment Agency.
Oct 27Engberg featured with lab research in an episode of a YouTube documentary series on digitalisation.
OctKyvik-Nordås appointed an AI expert at the OECD.AI Network of Experts. OECD.AI
Sep 30Engberg presented at the Workshop in AI + Economics at ETH Zürich. Workshop
Jun 20Call for papers released for the third AIEL conference (12–13 June 2024). Call for papers
Jun 8Lodefalk and Tang commissioned to write an expert ESO report on AI and the public sector. ESO
MayEngberg and Lodefalk presented at the Swedish Media Association annual conference.
May 23Engberg and Lodefalk presented at a Ratio seminar on AI and the labour market. Video
Mar 29Lodefalk interviewed by Swedish TV4. TV4
FebEngberg and Lodefalk interviewed about the lab's research on the ORU-Talks podcast. Podcast
Jan 25Lodefalk on The Employer Branding Geeks Podcast (Universum) about AI, work and the work environment. Podcast
JanPaper accepted for the AAMAS conference proceedings: Klügl & Nordås, "Modelling Agent Decision Making in Agent-Based Simulation". AAMAS
2022
Nov 12 & 25Engberg presented "New Work, Exiting Work, and Artificial Intelligence" at the Swedish Conference in Economics and the SWEGPEC Workshop.
Sep 28Two presentations at the WTO Public Forum by Kyvik-Nordås: "AI and Services" and "Digital Services".
Jun 24Kyvik-Nordås presented "AI and Services Trade" (virtual) at the APEC meeting.
Jun 15–16The 2nd AIEL Conference took place, with participants from three continents and four disciplines. Programme
Jun 8Mark Granberg welcomed as a postdoc, placed at Ratio and Örebro University.
Mar 21New working paper released: "Artificial Intelligence, Trade and Services Jobs" (TIISA WP 2022-14). Working paper
Feb 18Presentation at the PILLARS conference (online) of "New Work, Exiting Work and Artificial Intelligence". Video
Feb 1Mark Hellsten welcomed as a PhD student, placed at Aarhus University and Ratio.
Jan 10CEP blog column: "Double Whammy? The Impact of Trade and Automation on High-Skilled Jobs" (Kyvik-Nordås & Klügl). CEP
Jan 4New working paper released on AI-enabled automation, trade and the future of engineering services (ORU WP 16/2021). Working paper
2021
DecTIISA policy brief published: "The EU Digital Market Regulations: Rule-Maker or Deal-Breaker?" Policy brief
Nov 26Two new PhD students recruited, starting at Aarhus University and Ratio in February and September 2022.
Nov 26Research grant from Torsten Söderbergs Stiftelse (E46/21), 1.4 MSEK. ORU news
Nov 24Ratio seminar with Kyvik-Nordås & Klügl on "Trade and Automation: The Case of Engineering".
Nov 8–12The 3rd TIISA Annual Conference took place (14 papers, 3 keynotes, a panel and a roundtable incl. Richard Baldwin, Lucian Cernat and Google). Theme: "Trade and the Digital Transformation of Services". Örebro, Stockholm and online. Conference
Sep 2GLO Virtual Seminar with Lodefalk on "New Work, Exiting Work and Artificial Intelligence". GLO seminar
Aug 27Upcoming call for the TIISA Annual Conference 2021 at the AI-Econ Lab. Theme: "Trade and the Digital Transformation of Services", 8–12 November 2021.
Aug 20New PhD position opened at the lab, positioned at Aarhus University and Ratio.
May 10Paper published in Frontiers in Robotics and AI: "Drivers of automation and consequences for jobs in engineering services". Article
AprPaper on labour dynamics and AI accepted for the ILERA world congress.
2020
Dec 23New working paper released on the drivers of automation and consequences for jobs in engineering services (ORU WP 16/2020). Working paper
Nov 25Online conference on "The Impact of AI on White-Collar Work". Programme
Nov 19Presentation at the Trade Policy Research Forum webinar series.
NovPresentation of two papers at the TIISA annual conference and PhD workshop, Beijing and online.
Oct 14Call for papers: online conference on "The Impact of AI on White-Collar Work", 25 November 2020.
Oct 1Two AI-Econ Lab papers accepted for an upcoming international conference.
Jun 4Presentation at the AGAINST20 workshop, at the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA).
May 12Research grant from Jan Wallanders och Tom Hedelius Stiftelse (Fv20-0023).
Mar 18PhD student recruited (starting 17 August 2020).
Feb 16Deadline for the PhD position in economics, financed by the Ratio Institute.
2019
Sep 4Presentation of the research at the Economic Policy Forum, Swedish Entrepreneurship Forum, Stockholm.
May 13Research grant from Jan Wallanders och Tom Hedelius Stiftelse (P19-0234), 1.5 MSEK. The AI-Econ Lab is initiated.