Sweden allocated $46m annually to its national AI strategy last Friday, a sum comparable to a typical Series A funding round for a single startup. The strategy's core directive is sound: avoid competing with the US and China on foundational AI models and instead focus on becoming the world's best at applying them. However, across Europe, ambitious AI strategies often sound good on paper but fail to translate into tangible action.

As four founders building companies in Sweden's mobility, healthcare, enterprise AI, and AI deployment sectors, we love Europe's potential but observe a critical flaw. Too many exceptionally talented individuals we know have relocated to San Francisco in recent years, driven by higher returns on their work and the greater density of talent there. The fundamental question persists: does this strategy create a country where the best builders want to stay?

The answer is partly yes, but mostly no. Sweden still produces more tech unicorns per capita than almost any other nation, indicating a strong talent pipeline. The real challenge is how long this holds without structural support.

We feel an unprecedented urgency, recognizing AI as both the biggest opportunity and the greatest threat for those who lag behind.