19. Secure information management and how to build an AI factory from scratch w Kaaren Hilsen, CEO of the Telenor AI Factory

How can secure information management become a competitive advantage – and what does it take to build a sovereign AI factory from scratch? In this episode of Keys to Intelligent Industry, Kaaren Hilsen, CEO of the Telenor AI Factory, shares insights from leading one of the Nordics’ most ambitious AI infrastructure initiatives.

Kaaren reflects on her international telecom journey and Telenor’s 170‑year legacy of building critical national infrastructure. She explains why intelligence is emerging as a national resource, and why secure, sovereign AI capabilities are becoming essential for governments, enterprises, and society at large. The conversation explores the role of telecoms in enabling safe and smart societies, the balance between sovereignty and flexibility, and how responsible AI must address security, energy efficiency, and climate impact.

Kaaren also discusses building an AI factory with a startup mindset inside a large enterprise, early use cases in healthcare and the public sector, and what the future holds for AI‑driven infrastructure.

Episode highlights

· 01:54 – From telecom leader to CEO of the Telenor AI Factory

· 06:00 – Why intelligence is becoming a national resource

· 12:30 – Building a sovereign AI factory with speed over perfection

· 18:40 – Secure AI use cases in healthcare and the public sector

· 29:00 – The future of intelligent telco infrastructure

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Keys to Intelligent Industry is an original podcast from Capgemini. Visit our website to explore more episodes.