Niklas Sundberg: AI doesn’t change the world, people do, AI helps

On May 6, 2025, Kuehne+Nagel’s Chief Digital Officer and internationally recognized AI expert Niklas Sundberg spoke at Ülemiste City, where he opened the ITL-organized seminar “AI and Logistics: The Algorithm is Emerging” to the audience about the role of artificial intelligence in the global logistics giant’s digital transformation and discussed how smart technology can shape a more sustainable and efficient business environment.

Sundberg, who has been leading Kuehne+Nagel’s digital transformation for the past 18 months, emphasized in his presentation that AI is not a panacea, but when used correctly, it is a powerful tool. “AI is not a magic wand, but it is our greatest opportunity,” he noted.

“There is often an expectation that AI will do something world-changing and significantly improve results, but in reality, it can be enough to be just a fraction of a gram better than others if you have AI supporting your work,” Sundberg said. In his presentation, Sundberg emphasized the power of the 1%. “Take Usain Bolt – in 2016, he was less than 1% better than his nearest competitor at the Rio Olympics. That was enough to win. But does anyone even remember who came in second,” he gave a compelling example.

Sundberg gave examples of how Kuehne+Nagel is using AI to automate processes, improve supply chain visibility and enhance collaboration with partners, including small suppliers. For example, the company uses AI solutions to better communicate with customers or to predict the arrival time of goods as accurately as possible.

The seminar participants also heard about Kuehne+Nagel’s experience implementing AI solutions in a global organization with more than 80,000 employees. Sundberg highlighted that change management is key: “An AI strategy is not just a technical project, it is a cultural change.” He encouraged companies to start small, measure the impact and involve employees at every stage of the process.

Niklas Sundberg’s visit to Estonia brought valuable inspiration and practical knowledge to the local technology and logistics community on how to connect the possibilities of artificial intelligence with sustainable development goals.