Artificial Intelligence is an Opportunity, not a Risk – especially for a country like Switzerland

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Publication date: 16.11.2025

Overview

  • Author: Alexander Keberle and Jon Fanzun
  • Source: NZZ am Sonntag
  • Date: 16.11.2025
  • Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Article Summary

What is it about? The authors criticize negative AI coverage in Switzerland and argue that artificial intelligence should primarily be viewed as an opportunity rather than a risk.

Key facts:

  • A study predicts an "AI dividend" of 80 billion francs annually for Switzerland
  • This corresponds to approximately 10,000 francs per person per year
  • Switzerland needs over 130,000 ICT specialists by 2033
  • About one-third of AI responses contain errors according to a study [⚠️ Still to be verified]
  • Technological leaps have "rarely shrunk" the job market
  • Unemployment in Switzerland remains low
  • Demographic change leads to staff shortages

Affected groups: Professionals in routine jobs, ICT sector, aging society, people with adaptation difficulties with technical innovations

Opportunities & Risks:

  • Opportunities: Relief from skilled labor shortage, focus on human activities, democratization of knowledge
  • Risks: Copyright issues, information quality, adaptation difficulties

Recommendations: Shift perspective from risk to opportunity consideration, further development instead of rejection, strengthen critical information literacy

Looking to the Future

Short-term (1 year): Further integration of AI tools into workflows, ongoing public debate about regulation and impacts

Medium-term (5 years): Significant skilled labor shortage in the ICT sector, shift from routine tasks to human-centered activities

Long-term (10–20 years): Fundamental change in work structures, possible realization of predicted economic gains, new educational requirements

Fact Check

  • The 80 billion francs AI dividend is mentioned without detailed source citation [⚠️ Still to be verified]
  • The error rate of one-third for AI responses comes from an international study by public broadcasters [⚠️ Still to be verified]
  • The ICT specialist demand of 130,000 by 2033 corresponds to known industry estimates
  • The authors represent business associations (Economiesuisse, Swico), which could explain their pro-AI stance

Additional Sources

  • KOF study from ETH Zurich on AI impacts on the Swiss labor market
  • State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) - Reports on skilled labor shortage and digitalization
  • Federal Commission for Technology Assessment - Independent evaluations of AI developments

Source List

  • Original source: Artificial Intelligence is an Opportunity, not a Risk – especially for a country like Switzerland, NZZ am Sonntag
  • Additional sources:
    1. KOF study on Chat-GPT and Swiss labor market, NZZ, 31.10.2025
    2. Interview on digitalization pressure and data protection, NZZ, 10.11.2025
  • Facts checked: on 16.11.2025

Brief Assessment

The business representatives argue convincingly for a change in perspective in Switzerland's AI discussion. However, their optimistic economic forecasts should be critically examined as they come from interested parties. The basic thesis – that AI represents more opportunity than risk given existing skilled labor shortages – is understandable and currently relevant.

Three Key Questions

  1. Transparency: What concrete studies and data support the predicted 80 billion francs in economic gains, and who conducted them?

  2. Responsibility: How can workers in transition phases be supported without society bearing the costs of AI transformation alone?

  3. Freedom: Is there a danger that one-sided focus on economic opportunities could displace other societal values and freedom of choice in technology use?

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