Klarna's AI CEO Unveiled

Klarna, the Swedish buy-now-pay-later firm, has revealed it used an AI avatar of its CEO, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, to present its latest earnings report. While Klarna admitted to the AI deployment, subtle cues were the only indication for viewers. This move underscores Klarna's commitment to AI, which has already seen the company reduce its workforce by 40% through automation.

Klarna's AI strategy includes an AI-powered chatbot that handles the workload of 700 human agents, saving the company over $20 million annually. Siemiatkowski has expressed enthusiasm for AI, aiming for Klarna to be a testing ground for OpenAI's emerging technologies. The company's increasing reliance on AI coincides with its preparations for a US IPO, where it hopes to attract investors familiar with global technology platforms.

Despite concerns about AI replacing jobs, Klarna maintains that its AI initiatives are scaling up, with AI agents outperforming human counterparts in customer service. The AI bot resolves issues faster, reduces repeat inquiries, and handles two-thirds of customer chats. Klarna's move could signal a broader trend of companies using AI in leadership roles, though experts caution about potential trust issues with AI-generated executives.