Crash! Boom! Bubble!

PLEASE NOTE: Calendar invitations may automatically adjust to your local time zone. The event is scheduled for 17:00 – 19:00 Helsinki time (GMT +2).

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a household word and one of the most important topics on the EU policy agenda. Some expect it to bring a general leap in productivity and economic growth. However, the leap has yet to materialise, and the stock market boom driven by AI companies has been described as a bubble waiting to be burst. AI is part of the wider digital economy ecosystem that has concentrated power in the hands of monopolistic Big Tech companies. In addition, the use of AI at workplaces and in public administration has brought forth problems related to workers’ rights and democratic governance.  

Will AI bring a new surge in productivity or is it merely a false promise? What role should AI play in the economy of the future? How should it be regulated to ensure that its benefits are shared and worker rights respected? 

In the framework of the FEPS-Nordic Digital Programme, the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS), in collaboration with the Kalevi Sorsa Foundation, Industrial Employees TP, PAM and SAK, organises a public discussion on this topic on 11 March 2026 between 17:00 – 19:00 at the Think Corner Stage of the University of Helsinki. 

Among our speakers are: 

• Simon Vinge, Chief Economist, Akademikerförbundet SSR 
• Anne Kaun, Professor of Media & Communication Studies, Södertörn University
• Leevi Saari, PhD Candidate, University of Amsterdam
• Antti Hakala, Director, Trade Union Pro
• Miapetra Kumpula Natri, Member of Parliament, SDP
• Monty Aal, Policy Analyst on Digital, FEPS

This event is part of the FEPS–Nordic Digital Programme, a collaborative research and policy initiative led by FEPS in cooperation with Nordic think tanks and trade unions. 

To participate in person in Helsinki, please register via our website. The discussions can also be followed online via the venue’s webpage here.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Monty Aal, FEPS Digital Policy Analyst (monty.aal@feps-europe.eu) or Vanessa Zwisele, FEPS Project Officer (vanessa.zwisele@feps-europe.eu).